Ghana could expand access to healthcare by integrating scientifically validated traditional medicines into the mainstream health system, Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has said.
She said the potential of traditional medicine could be better harnessed if products were subjected to rigorous research, proper regulation and manufacturing standards to guarantee their safety, quality and effectiveness.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah made the remarks when she visited the Centre of Awareness (COA) Research and Manufacturing Company in the Central Region, where she interacted with management and staff and inspected its facilities to assess compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
She pointed to China as an example of a country where traditional and conventional medicine are used alongside each other, saying Ghana could explore a similar approach while maintaining appropriate scientific and regulatory safeguards.
According to her, stronger collaboration between practitioners of traditional and conventional medicine could improve healthcare outcomes, particularly if medicines used by the public are properly researched and meet required safety and quality standards.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah also linked the discussion to the government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, saying its focus on prevention and health promotion creates an opportunity to examine how scientifically validated traditional medicine can contribute to primary healthcare.
She identified conditions such as hypertension and diabetes as areas where traditional medicine could potentially play a role, subject to scientific validation and effective regulation.
The Chief Executive Officer of COA Manufacturing Company, Prof. (HC) Samuel Ato Duncan, welcomed the government’s renewed interest in developing the sector.
He said bringing traditional medicine to the required standards could allow it to complement national healthcare programmes, including the Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
Prof. Duncan disclosed that COA was conducting research into the potential health benefits of some of its products, including possible applications in the management of cancer and viral diseases.
He stressed that sustained research and collaboration among traditional medicine practitioners, researchers and government institutions would be critical to building stronger scientific evidence around traditional medicines.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah said the Ministry of Health would continue working with stakeholders to strengthen research, quality assurance, manufacturing and regulation within the sector.
She said the ultimate goal was to develop a healthcare system where traditional and conventional medicine can safely complement each other, guided by scientific evidence and appropriate regulatory standards.
