Prof. Christian Agyare Calls for Evidence-Based Practice in Herbal Medicine at 2026 GAMH Conference

The conference, themed "Strengthening Evidence-Based Practice for Global Health and Sustainable Development," provides a timely platform for medical herbalists to reflect on their practice, collaborate, and advance the profession

The 2026 Annual General Conference of the Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists (GAMH) opened yesterday with a powerful call for rigorous research, quality assurance, and professional excellence in herbal medicine practice.

Prof. Christian Agyare, Provost of the College of Health Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), who served as Chairman for the opening ceremony, delivered a stirring address that underscored the critical role of medical herbalists in Ghana's healthcare landscape.

A Seat at the Table – With a Condition

"Across the world, health systems are re-examining what they once dismissed," Prof. Agyare stated. "Traditional and complementary medicine, once relegated to the margins of formal healthcare, is increasingly being asked to sit at the same table as conventional medical practice."

However, he emphasized that this recognition comes with a significant condition: evidence.

"Quality assurance, rigorous research, and professional excellence are no longer optional extras for our profession. They are the price of admission," he declared.

Conference Theme: Evidence-Based Practice

The conference, themed "Strengthening Evidence-Based Practice for Global Health and Sustainable Development," provides a timely platform for medical herbalists to reflect on their practice, collaborate, and advance the profession.

Prof. Agyare urged his colleagues to ask themselves critical questions:

• Are we practicing as rigorously as we should?

• Are we collaborating enough?

• Are we making the case with evidence—rather than assumptions—for the place of herbal medicine in modern healthcare?

"This conference gives us exactly the space to address these questions," he said.

A Personal Commitment

Expressing deep gratitude for the invitation, Prof. Agyare acknowledged the confidence reposed in him by the leadership of the Association.

"To chair this opening conference is to be entrusted, even briefly, with the voice of a profession that has walked a long and often difficult road towards recognition. I hope to honor that trust today," he said.

He also noted the personal joy and honor he felt in being associated with a gathering that serves as a platform for professional development and reflection.

A Profession at a Crossroads

The Provost observed that the global health community is increasingly looking to traditional medicine to complement conventional healthcare delivery. However, he stressed that this opportunity demands a shift in how medical herbalists approach their work.

"This conference, in many ways, is our profession's response to that demand," he concluded.

About the Conference

The 2026 Annual General Conference of the Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists brings together practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the country to deliberate on the future of herbal medicine in Ghana and beyond.