Traditional Medicine is attracting foreign interest and investment, thereby contributing not only to healthcare delivery but also to Ghana’s productivity and economic output.
“Currently, there are 60 government hospitals across the nation where patients seeking primary healthcare can access herbal medicine services provided by medical herbalists. These primary healthcare practitioners are trained by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital and the Centre for Plants Medicine Research.”
The Minister for Health, Dr Bernard Oko Boye, said this at the commemoration of the 22nd African Traditional Medicine Day and the 25TH Traditional Medicine Week in Accra.
The theme, “Support the Provision of Quality and Safe Traditional Medicine through Appropriate Regular Mechanisms,” aimed to prioritise the establishment and strengthening of regulatory frameworks that ensure the quality, efficacy and safety of traditional medicinal products.
Dr Oko Boye, highlighted the economic impact of traditional medicine in Ghana, noting its ability to create employment.
He stated that regulatory institutions, research bodies and production companies provide numerous job opportunities for thousands of Ghanaians, adding that the expansion of the traditional medicine sector has also positioned Ghana as a leader in the field.
According to him, traditional medicine services are covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme, adding that the Ministry of Health has completed processes to include the recommended herbal medicine list in the National Essential Medicine List to be covered by the NHIS.
The Director of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate at the Ministry, Dr Anastasia Michaelina Yirenkyi, emphasising the critical role of health in every individual’s life, remarked, “Health is the biggest wealth for a human being in his or her entire lifetime. One can survive without excess money but cannot survive without good health.”
Professor Isaac Kingsley Amponsah, a prominent figure in traditional medicine, stated the importance of health as the greatest wealth a person can possess. He highlighted the role of traditional medicine in ensuring the well-being of Ghanaians and underscored the need for continued research and development in this field.
The Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate formulate policies, monitor activities, and coordinate the integration of traditional medicine into the broader healthcare system.
Modernghana
