Deputy Health Minister calls for greater integration of traditional medicine into healthcare

The Deputy Minister for Health, Hon. Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has called for greater integration of scientifically validated traditional medicine into Ghana’s mainstream healthcare system, saying the sector has the potential to complement conventional medicine and improve healthcare delivery.

She made the call during a visit to the Center of Awareness (COA) Research and Manufacturing Company in the Central Region, where she engaged management and staff and inspected the facility to assess its compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

Prof. Ayensu-Danquah said Ghana could draw valuable lessons from countries such as China, where traditional and conventional medicine operate alongside each other to expand access to healthcare.

She noted that the Government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, with its emphasis on preventive and promotive healthcare, presents an opportunity to explore the role of traditional medicine, particularly in addressing non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

The Deputy Minister, however, stressed the importance of scientific validation, quality assurance and effective regulation to ensure that traditional medicines integrated into the healthcare system are safe, effective and of acceptable quality.

The Chief Executive Officer of COA Manufacturing Company, Prof. (HC) Samuel Ato Duncan, expressed appreciation to the government for its efforts to develop and standardise traditional medicine so it can effectively complement national healthcare programmes, including the Free Primary Healthcare initiative.

He highlighted ongoing research by the company into the potential health benefits of its products, including research related to cancer and viral diseases.

He said sustained research, innovation and collaboration with government would be critical to unlocking the full potential of traditional medicine and enabling the sector to contribute more meaningfully to Ghana’s healthcare system.

Prof. Ayensu-Danquah assured stakeholders that the Ministry of Health would continue to collaborate with relevant institutions and industry players to strengthen research, quality assurance, manufacturing and regulation within the traditional medicine sector.

She said the broader objective was to create a healthcare system in which traditional and conventional medicine could complement each other safely and effectively, guided by scientific evidence and appropriate regulatory standards.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith