The Deputy Minister for Health, Prof Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has called for greater integration of scientifically validated traditional medicine into Ghana’s mainstream healthcare system.
She said traditional medicine could play an important role in improving healthcare delivery if it was supported by research, quality assurance, effective manufacturing and regulation.
Prof Ayensu-Danquah made the call during a visit to the Center of Awareness (COA) Research and Manufacturing Company, a herbal medicine manufacturing facility in the Central Region, where she met management and staff and inspected the facility to assess its compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
She said Ghana could draw lessons from countries such as China, where traditional and conventional medicine complement each other, adding that greater integration could help expand access to safe and quality healthcare.
The Deputy Minister also identified the Government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme as an opportunity to explore the contribution of traditional medicine, particularly in preventive and promotive healthcare.
She said the sector could have a role in addressing non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
The Chief Executive Officer of COA Manufacturing Company, Prof (HC) Samuel Ato Duncan, welcomed the government’s efforts to develop traditional medicine to a standard that could complement national healthcare programmes, including the Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
He highlighted research being undertaken by the company into the potential health benefits of its products, including research areas such as cancer and viral diseases.
Prof Duncan said continued research and collaboration with the government would help unlock the potential of traditional medicine and enable the sector to contribute more significantly to healthcare delivery.
Prof Ayensu-Danquah said the Ministry of Health would continue working with stakeholders to strengthen research, quality assurance, manufacturing and regulation.
She said the broader objective was to bring traditional and conventional medicine together in a manner that was safe and evidence-based.
