Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has called for a greater role for scientifically validated traditional medicine in Ghana’s healthcare system.
She said the government is committed to integrating safe and scientifically validated traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare to help improve healthcare delivery.
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Prof. Ayensu-Danquah made the remarks during a visit to the Center of Awareness (COA) Research and Manufacturing Company, a herbal medicine manufacturing facility in the Central Region.
During the visit, she engaged the company’s management and staff and inspected its facilities to assess compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
She said Ghana could learn from countries such as China, where traditional and conventional medicine are used alongside each other, adding that stronger integration could help broaden access to safe and quality healthcare.
According to the Deputy Minister, the government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, which places emphasis on preventive and promotive healthcare, offers an opportunity to examine how traditional medicine can contribute to healthcare delivery.
She particularly mentioned the potential role of traditional medicine in addressing non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
The Chief Executive Officer of COA Manufacturing Company, Prof. (HC) Samuel Ato Duncan, commended the government for its efforts to develop traditional medicine to a standard that can complement national healthcare programmes, particularly the Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
He said the company is conducting research into the potential health benefits of its products, including their application in areas such as cancer and viral diseases.
Prof. Duncan said sustained research and collaboration with government would help unlock the potential of traditional medicine and enable the sector to make a greater contribution to healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah said the Ministry of Health would continue to collaborate with stakeholders to strengthen research, quality assurance, manufacturing and regulation.
She said these efforts are aimed at creating a safe and evidence-based system in which traditional and conventional medicine can work together.
