Herbal practitioners discuss rules guiding operations
The Head of the Inspectorate and Enforcement Division of the Traditional Medicine Practitioners Council at the Ministry of Health, Mr Martin Azaglo, has advised traditional herbal practitioners to learn and be abreast of the laws, rules and regulations guiding their operations in the country.
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He said that was necessary to enhance their operations and also ensure that they rendered quality service to their clients, in conformity with rules and regulations guiding their operations.
Mr Azaglo who gave the advice at a national training workshop for members of the Ghana Alternative Medical Practitioners Association (GAMPA) in Kumasi also cautioned herbal practitioners against charging exorbitant fees at their facilities.
He said charging high fees would defeat the dream of providing affordable health care to patients who sought traditional healthcare.
Over 60 practitioners from the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and West regions, attended the workshop.
Education
The GAMPA members were educated on laws governing their operations such as provisions of the 1992 Constitution, Criminal Code of Ghana, The Pharmaceutical Act, Medical and Dental Law, Local government Act, Food and Drug Act among others, which would enhance their operations.
Mr Azaglo called on the practitioners to support the Ministry of Health to help weed out quacks from the industry to make many people have confidence in their operations.
He also appealed to the various stakeholders in the herbal medicine industry to collaborate with the ministry to streamline activities in the industry to bring sanity into the industry.
Maltreatment
He challenged them to desist from assaulting and maltreating mentally challenged people brought to their facilities and rather treat them with care since it was against the laws of the land.
The President of the Ghana Naturopathic Medical Practitioners Association, Dr Be-lagi Gregory Lugu-zuri, said proper diagnosis constituted 40 per cent of health care and urged health practitioners to spend quality time to diagnose patients before prescribing medication for them.
He appealed to the government to waive taxes on diagnostic equipment in order to enhance quality health care in the country.
The Vice chairman of GAMPA called for unity among members of the group to spearhead the development of the industry.