The Ministry of Health has marked the 23rd African Traditional Medicine Day and the 26th Traditional Medicine Week with a renewed call to strengthen the scientific and regulatory foundations of traditional medicine in Ghana.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Dr Anastasia Yirenkyi, Director of Traditional and Alternative Medicine, said the theme, “Strengthening the Evidence Base for Traditional Medicine,” reflects the government’s commitment to improving research, safety, and the integration of herbal medicine into the national health system.
She highlighted the 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, in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority and the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, in ensuring the quality of products and adherence to ethical practices.
The President of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations and Chairman of the TMPC, Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, also addressed the gathering, noting significant progress, including the licensing of over 6,000 practitioners, certification of more than 50 herbal manufacturing facilities, and the establishment of traditional medicine units in 55 district hospitals.
He acknowledged ongoing challenges, including resource constraints and public misconceptions, and called for stronger collaboration, increased funding, and better protection of traditional knowledge.
Dr Yirenkyi, on behalf of the Ministry, reiterated its commitment to advancing evidence-based traditional medicine to support national health and economic development.