Health Ministry moves to integrate traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare
The Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has urged Ghana to further integrate scientifically proven traditional medicine into the mainstream healthcare system.
She said traditional medicine could make a meaningful contribution to healthcare delivery if it was properly researched, regulated and produced in line with approved safety and quality standards.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah made the remarks during a visit to the Centre of Awareness (COA) Research and Manufacturing Company in the Central Region, where she met with management and staff and toured the company’s facilities to assess its adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
She pointed to China as an example of a country where traditional and conventional medicine are used alongside each other to support healthcare delivery.
The Deputy Minister said stronger cooperation between traditional and conventional healthcare providers could improve health outcomes while ensuring that medicines used by the public meet the necessary standards for safety, quality and effectiveness.
She said the government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, which focuses on preventive and promotive healthcare, provides an opportunity to explore how traditional medicine can support primary healthcare services.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah identified non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes as areas where traditional medicine could potentially play a role, provided its effectiveness is established through scientific research and appropriate regulation.
The Chief Executive Officer of COA Manufacturing Company, Prof. (HC) Samuel Ato Duncan, welcomed the government’s efforts to develop the traditional medicine industry to a level where it can complement national healthcare initiatives, including the Free Primary Healthcare programme.
He disclosed that the company was conducting research into the potential health benefits of some of its products, including their possible use in managing cancer and viral diseases.
Prof. Duncan emphasised the need for sustained research and closer cooperation among traditional medicine practitioners, scientists and government agencies to unlock the sector’s potential.
He said such partnerships would help build stronger scientific evidence around traditional medicines and enable the industry to contribute more effectively to healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah assured that the Ministry of Health would continue collaborating with stakeholders to improve research, quality control, manufacturing and regulation within the traditional medicine sector.
She said the ultimate goal was to develop a healthcare system where traditional and conventional medicine could safely complement one another, guided by scientific evidence and appropriate regulatory standards.
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