Accra: Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has urged greater collaboration with stakeholders to build trust, enhance regulation, and expand the role of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (TAM) in Ghana's healthcare system.
According to Ghana News Agency, the call was made during a high-level stakeholders' engagement which brought together over 100 participants, including 28 associations, representatives from the Ministry of Health, regulatory agencies, practitioners, and media partners. It was emphasized that more than 70 per cent of Ghanaians rely on traditional medicine at some point in their lives, making it not only a cultural heritage but also a significant contributor to public health, job creation, and national identity.
Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, Chair of the TMPC Board, highlighted the importance of professionalizing and protecting traditional medicine, stating, "Traditional medicine is more than a cultural inheritance; it is a driver of health, jobs, and national identity."
The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to the sector, emphasizing its inclusion in Ghana's 24-hour economy agenda. The Health Minister encouraged practitioners to form cooperatives, cultivate medicinal plants, and invest in safe herbal research to strengthen the industry.
To improve efficiency and transparency, the TMPC announced the rollout of new digital systems aimed at streamlining registration, licensing, and monitoring of practitioners. This initiative is expected to help curb malpractice and ensure higher standards of care.
Participants at the engagement committed to fighting quackery, misinformation, and poor practices that undermine the sector's credibility. They stressed the need for stricter enforcement of licensing and registration, along with public education to build trust in TAM services.
The meeting concluded with stakeholders adopting four resolutions: regular stakeholder engagements for continuous dialogue, enforcement of practitioner licensing and registration, stricter guidelines to curb quackery and poor standards, and stronger collaboration with the Ministry of Health to integrate TAM into the national health system.
The TMPC noted that Ghana's health system stands to benefit significantly from better integration of traditional medicine, with the Council believing that the sector can contribute to improved healthcare delivery and economic growth through stronger regulation, investment in herbal research, and greater collaboration.