Parliamentary Select Committee on Health pledges advocacy support for COA RMCL’s research
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has pledged to collaborate with the COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited (COA RMCL) to help secure partnerships and funding to advance research into the company’s range of herbal-based medical products.
The committee made the commendation and pledged to champion the advocacy to help facilitate partnerships and funding opportunities to boost efforts towards lasting solutions to the nation's health challenges through indigenous science and technology.
This came up during a working visit to the COA RMCL factory at Wusorkrom in the Central region on Monday by the committee led by its Chairman Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, Member of Parliament for Nabdam.
Read also: FDA Ghana’s disclaimer on purported approval of COA 72 for clinical trials as an anti-HIV drug
They expressed confidence in the company’s research, saying they were optimistic the products had significant potential in both health and economic terms, which deserved national attention and support.
Dr Nawaane said while about 70 percent of Ghanaians used one herbal product or the other, the country was not able to accept and assist people making progress in herbal medicine research and development.
Potential great
He said though there was still some work to be done on the products, it was necessary that RMCL was supported to explore the potentials of the products which undoubtedly held great potential.
He pledged that members would make a statement on the floor of Parliament advocating support for RMCL research and growth.
Laudable
A member of the committee and Board Chairman of the National Vaccines Institute, Mr Charles Agbeve said efforts of the company were laudable adding that the institute was ready to collaborate with RMCL to seek funding for its work.
The Member of Parliament for Mfantseman and a member of the committee, Dr Ebenezer Prince Arhin said it was sad how traditional medicine had been abandoned for options which were messing with our body systems.
He suggested that the committee push for the COA products to be on the National Health Insurance prescription list.
Protect such efforts
Member of Parliament for Central Tongu, Alexander Hottordze stressed that such significant effort from a Ghanaian must be protected and promoted urging members to take the COA research efforts as a project and advocate for capital injection for the company.
Briefing the committee on the products, the Production Manager and biomedical scientist at COA RMCL,
Dr. Caleb Mawuli Agbale, said the COA 72 had demonstrated a broad-spectrum antiviral capacity, with indications of effectiveness against viruses such as Herpes, COVID-19, and even Ebola.
“After more than 20 years of rigorous research, we believe we are on the verge of a major medical breakthrough,” Dr. Agbale stated. “We now need strong governmental support and investment to push our research to the next level.”
According to him, the company could generate approximately $76 billion in revenue to shore up the economy.
He emphasized the need for a vial machine in the near future which, even operating at just 10 percent capacity, could generate up to $7.6billion annually, underscoring the immense economic potential of the enterprise.
He said for the clinical trials, COA RMCL also aimed to assemble a dedicated team of experts to oversee clinical trials and eventually the scale-up of production.
Dr. Agbale noted that their products had undergone necessary safety protocols and received regulatory approvals adding anecdotal evidence also suggested the products were providing relief for patients with hypertension, diabetes, stroke, terminal malignancies, kidney issues, and severe allergies.
The President General of COA RMCL, Mr. Samuel Ato Duncan, welcomed the committee’s support and reiterated the company’s commitment to scientific excellence and safe, plant-based medical innovation.
He said the products had also been tested by respected institutions, including the Centre for Plant Medicine Research and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) stating that it was time the government stepped in with support.
He said any groundbreaking achievement would mean an enormous socio-econonic breakthrough for the country.
He appealed to the committee to advocate COA products to br used in health facilities which did not have access to antiretiroviral drugs.
