Training, Job Descriptions, And Roles Of Medical Herbalists In Ghana

Medical Herbalists are healthcare professionals with the ability to make a definite diagnosis based on patient history, physical examination, and presenting condition, analyzing them through syndrome differentiation, clinical investigations including diagnostic imaging, and making a treatment plan based on validated herbal medicines. They cooperate with other healthcare professionals to manage the patient/client in other to restore or promote health and evaluate health outcomes.

COURSE OUTLINE (BSC HERBAL MEDICINE)

The training of Medical Herbalists involves two main stages; Bachelor of Science degree at KNUST, and 2 years of internship.
The four-year course at the college of health sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is devoted to acquiring skills in

Medicine/Clinical Science

Physiology, Anatomy, Pharmacology, Pathology (gross and chemical), Diagnostic skills (history taking and physical examination), Investigations (imaging, ultrasound, and laboratory Science) nursing, etc.

Herbal Science

Plant morphology, Phytochemistry, Phytotherapy (herbal formulas and formulations), drug Analysis and registration (Crude, preparations, and finished products), etc.

Pharmaceutical Science

Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics (Dispensing and Microbiology), Pharmaceutical chemistry, etc.

Social Sciences

e.g. Communication skills, law, policy and ethics, medical anthropology and history of medical practices, philosophy of complementary alternative medicine practices.

Others

Business management, Entrepreneurship, Supply chain management, etc.

Practical skills in diagnosis and treatment in all the medical disciplines and referrals are emphasized during the internship. A professional exam is then organized.

Internship

The internship is for a period of 2(two) years in three rotation

• A year of experience at Medical centers with herbal medicine units, Research Centres, and Regulatory Institutions for training in evaluation of Herbal Medicine and monitoring of the use of traditional health services. This is now on the national service scheme.
• Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital – Exposure to patient care in all clinical disciplines, Districts and sub-district health care system, referral of at-risk patients, especially in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry and surgical emergencies especially where patients are at risk, etc, for 6 months
• Centre for Plant Medicine Research (CPMR), Mampong-Akuapem – involves Diagnostic techniques, microbiology, laboratory practices, consulting, Drug analysis, production and dispensing of herbal medicines, etc, for 6 months.

The level at which Medical herbalists give care is similar to that of primary contact Medical/ Physician Assistants. They are however limited by not being trained in surgery, medical specialties, and surgical manipulations such as entering a vein, suturing, although by necessity they acquire the later skills, on the job, and during internship training.

Job Summary

1. Work under supervision as a member of the medical team to provide healthcare, monitor, and evaluate patients care.
2. Collaborate with other disciplines and health care staff to ensure optimum care for clients/patients
3. At high levels of progression, the responsibility of supervision of clinical staff, contributing to the management of physical and financial resources and policies would increase.

Main Duties

• Provide primary healthcare under supervision to patients/clients and community with natural and herbal medicines and monitor and evaluate their health outcome
• Promote and actively participates in the formulation, and extemporaneous preparation based on approved standard formularies.
• Participate in the provision of inpatient care and services in herbal medicine practice as required.
• Undertake promotion and education on the rational use of herbal medicines to the public and traditional medicine practitioners.
• Monitor and report adverse drug events related to the use of herbal medicines and products.
• Ensure proper storage of natural and herbal medicines and maintain standards in own work area of supervision
• Prepare and submit routine and other reports to the unit/district head as required (this includes case studies, personal observations, pharmacovigilance and disease surveillance in the community and of hospital reported cases, immunization coverage, etc.
• Provide counseling services and referrals as may be required.
• Provide advice on natural and regenerative health and nutrition (RHNP and CAM)

At Senior Levels

• Supervise junior staff, interns, and students on attachment
• Coordinate work plans, work schedules, and performance improvement programs.
• Participate in the development of related policies, guidelines, and protocols.

Service to the Community 

Participate in public health activities, health outreach services, and community education on health and conservation of medicinal plants.

Knowledge at entry point 

Bachelor of herbal medicine, plus a 2-year Internship Post-graduate training is desired but would only be a requirement to progress beyond the Principal Medical herbalist level.

Skills Required

Good communication, Personal development aptitude, Patient Rights Protection, Research and orientation, data management, proposals and report writing, quality assurance, and health safety skills: Management skill required at the higher levels of responsibility

The normal hierarchy of progression is as follows;
Chief (one position only by appointment)
Deputy Chief or Manager by qualification and performance

Principal Officer (specialization is optional but preferred)

Senior Officer (five years of service after entry)

Medical Herbalist (after registration and appointment)

Intern (BHM. Two year mandatory pre-registration internship required but including national service)

AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSTING AND PLACEMENT OF MEDICAL HERBALISTS

A. Clinical Work

• Superintendent Medical Herbalist – Private Herbal Medicine Clinic Practice
• As Medical Assistant (herbal) – Rural and Sub-district health centers and Districts Hospitals
• Medical Herbalist in Herbal Medicines units

B. Retail/wholesale of medicines on sales; 

Supervision of retail and wholesale facilities for herbal medicines. Over-the-counter sales, counseling and home delivery services, where necessary

C. Research and Regulatory Jobs

• Regulatory Officers/Inspectors – Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)
• Research Assistants – Research institution CPMR, NOGUCHI – UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, Department of Herbal Medicine – KNUST Department Chemistry/Biochemistry University of Ghana /KNUST,
• Medical Schools/Colleges of Medical Sciences.

Some of the roles and duties in addition to placement options for Medical herbalists spelled out above are not being carried out well due to several reasons such as; lack of formulation and implementation of policy on professional herbal medicine practice, lack of established parliamentary act to back the practice, among others stated in the article “Herbal medicine practice; Shortcomings of the professional association (part 1&2)”.

REFERENCES

1. Handbook for the Medical Herbalist and new health workers
2.Pharmacy.knust.edu.gh
3.Herbal medicine practice; Shortcomings of the professional association (part 1&2)

4.Development made in the herbal medicine practice in Ghana.

EMMANUEL BENTIL ASARE ADUSEI
BSC HERBAL MEDICINE, KNUST
C.E.O, ADUBEN HERBAL CONSULT
Bentilemmanuelasare@yahoo.com
+233546678401