Healing Divide: Experts Push for Unified FDA Regulations on Herbal Medicines
Herbal medicine experts have called for the establishment of a single national standard for herbal medicines in Ghana, warning that inconsistencies in regulation and procurement are hindering the growth of the industry. The calls were made at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Department of Herbal Medicine at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Background
Ghana's herbal medicine industry has been growing steadily over the years, with many traditional medicine practitioners and manufacturers contributing to the sector. However, experts have raised concerns about the lack of uniform standards and inconsistent regulation, which are hindering the growth of the industry. Okogye Abibiduro Nana Kwadwo Kobiri, General Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations, appealed to the government to develop a single national standard for herbal medicines to guide manufacturers and regulators.
What This Means
The absence of a single national standard for herbal medicines is creating confusion for industry players, with many manufacturers struggling to comply with the changing policies. Nana Kobiri argued that the Ghana Standards Authority should establish uniform standards that would be adopted by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, and industry players. He also expressed concern over the implementation of Ghana's Essential Herbal Medicines List, saying that many public health facilities procure herbal medicines almost exclusively from the Centre for Plant Medicine Research, despite the existence of a broader list approved by the Ministry of Health.
Expert Calls for Action
Professor Regina Appiah-Opong of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research called on the government and private stakeholders to provide greater financial support for herbal medicine research and development. She emphasized the importance of investment in research to ensure that herbal medicines produced in Ghana undergo rigorous scientific evaluation, including safety screening, dosage determination, shelf-life assessment, and quality assurance. According to Prof. Appiah-Opong, Ghana's herbal medicine industry contributes far less economically than those of countries such as South Africa and Egypt, largely due to inadequate funding for research and commercialization.
A Way Forward
The event, held under the theme "25 Years of Advancing Herbal Medicine Education: Strengthening Evidence-Based Practice for Global Health and Sustainable Development," brought together traditional leaders, academics, alumni, students, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to reflect on the department's contributions to herbal medicine education and discuss strategies to strengthen evidence-based practice and enhance the sector's contribution to national development. The calls for a single national standard and greater investment in research and development are a step in the right direction, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to these concerns. One thing is clear, however: the growth of Ghana's herbal medicine industry depends on it.
Source: Joy Online
