Hot Source
The Ministry of Health has marked the 23rd African Traditional Medicine Day and the 26th Traditional Medicine Week with a renewed call to reinforce the scientific and regulatory foundations of traditional medicine in Ghana.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Director of Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Dr Anastasia Yirenkyi, said this year’s theme — “Strengthening the Evidence Base for Traditional Medicine” — reflects government’s commitment to promoting research, safety and the integration of herbal medicine into the national health system.
Dr. Yirenkyi highlighted the central roles of the Centre for Plant Medicine Research, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Ghana and the University of Health and Allied Sciences, working in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority and the Traditional Medicine Practice Council.
These institutions, she said, continue to ensure product quality, regulatory compliance and adherence to ethical standards across the sector.
The President of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations and Chairman of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, also addressed participants, outlining the progress made over the years.
These include the licensing of more than 6,000 practitioners, certification of over 50 herbal manufacturing facilities and the establishment of traditional medicine units in 55 district hospitals nationwide.
However, Prof. Duncan acknowledged persistent challenges such as resource gaps, limited public understanding and misconceptions about traditional medicine.
He called for stronger collaboration, increased funding and enhanced protection of indigenous knowledge to safeguard the gains made so far.
Dr. Yirenkyi, on behalf of the Ministry, reaffirmed government’s commitment to advancing evidence-based traditional medicine as a key contributor to national health and economic development.
The post Ghana renews push to strengthen scientific backbone of traditional medicine appeared first on The Herald ghana.
