Report on Orthodox and Herbal Confab[1]

8/8/2019 Report on Orthodox and Herbal Confab[1]

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Conference Report

ORTHODOX AND HERBAL MEDICINE

CONFERENCE

Theme:

Orthodox and Herbal Medicine: A Good Partnership for Quality

Health Care Delivery

28th

October, 2010

Kama Conference Center

Accra, Ghana


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Table of Contents

About New Agenda Foundation...........................................................................................................2

Acknowledgements ..............................................................................................................................3List of Abbreviations............................................................................................................................4

Executive Summary..............................................................................................................................5

1. Opening Ceremony.......................................................................................................................6

2. Plenary Sessions ...........................................................................................................................72.1. Session 1...............................................................................................................................7

2.1.1. The Role of Herbal Medicine: Prospects and Challenges. ...........................................7

2.1.2. The Missing Link between Orthodox and Alternative Medicine Practice...................82.1.3. Codes, Standards and Ethics of Herbal Medicine Practice ..........................................9

2.1.4. General Discussions: Session 1 ....................................................................................9

2.2. Session 2.............................................................................................................................102.2.1. The Role of Orthodox and Traditional Medicine in Promoting Quality Health Care

Delivery 10

2.2.2. Roles and Responsibilities of Key Health Institutions in Promoting Quality HealthCare Delivery..............................................................................................................................11

2.2.3. General Discussions Session 2 ................................................................................123. Way Forward..............................................................................................................................12

4. Closing Remarks ........................................................................................................................13


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About New Agenda FoundationNew Agenda Foundation (NAF) is registered as a non-profit health, ICT and media

organization.

Some of NAFs key achievements include:

A fundraising for Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu Educational TrustFund (SONSETFUND) 17th August, 2009

HIV & AIDS and Skin Conference 28th 29th October, 2009 Health Needs on GTV 12th July 13th October, 2010

NAF, since its formation, has been at the forefront of promoting quality health

service delivery in Ghana by partnering and interacting with stakeholders in the

health industry.

NAF ran a thirteen week TV programme on GTV dubbed Health Needs from

12th July to 13th October, 2010 where experts in the health industry were

interviewed to find out the emerging trends in health technology as well as

emerging diseases. Health Needs aired on Mondays 3:30pm. Since the programme

engaged mainly practitioners from the herbal sector, NAF decided to organize a

conference at the end of it all to bring all the stakeholders together for

deliberations.

Contact Details:

P. O. Box KB 891,

Korle-Bu,

Accra, Ghana.

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: +233-242314805/ +233-246414414


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Acknowledgements

New Agenda Foundation is very grateful for the assistance of the following institutions and

individuals who helped in various ways to make the conference a success.

1. CSIR-STEPRI2.

Ministry of Health

3. TAMP, Ministry of Health4. TMPC5. Prof. M.L.K. Mensah Faculty of Pharmacy, KNUST6. Mrs. Rose Omari CSIR-STEPRI7. Mr. Harrison Nimoh Agyemang TMPC8. Mr. Samuel Kwakwa Coalition of NGOs in Health9. Mr. Eugene Ansah Owusu Ampaw TAMP, MOH10.Miss Wendy Romaine NAF Volunteer


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List of Abbreviations

CAM Complementary and Alternative Medicine CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Research CSRPM Centre for Scientific and Research into Plant Medicine

FDB Food and Drugs Board GHAFTRAM Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine GHS Ghana Health Service GMA Ghana medical Association KNUST Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology MDC Medical and Dental Council MOH Ministry of Health NAF New Agenda Foundation STEPRI Science and Technology Policy Research Institute TAMP Traditional Alternative Medicine Practice TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine TMP Traditional Medicine Practitioners TMPC Traditional Medicine Practice Council WHO World Health Organisation


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Executive Summary

The Orthodox and Herbal Medicine Conference was a one-day event to bring together the major

stakeholders in the Health industry primarily to dialogue on how to ensure a good partnership

between orthodox and herbal medicine practitioners and other non traditional players in the Health

industry.

The theme for the event was Orthodox and Herbal Medicine: A Good Partnership for Quality

Health Care Delivery

The Conference had 78 registered participants from across Ghana.

The goal of the conference was to promote dialogue and partnership between orthodox and

alternative practitioners to ensure quality and affordable health care delivery. The conference

consisted of an opening ceremony, two plenary sessions and discussions at the end of each session.

The conference created the platform for shared experiences among alternative medicine

practitioners, mainly herbal practitioners, and policy makers by discussing how good practices

could be encouraged and enforced.

The orthodox practitioners, i.e., Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and Medical and Dental

Council (MDC) could not honour the invitation. It was decided at the end of the conference to

continue to build bridges between the orthodox and alternative practitioners regardless and that the

conference should be made a yearly event and to broaden the scope and participation by bringing on

board other viable alternative medicine practitioners.

The conference was organized by New Agenda Foundation (NAF) in collaboration with the

Ministry of Health (MOH), Department of Herbal Medicine - KNUST, Food and Drugs Board

(FDB), Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), Council for Scientific and Industrial

Research (CSIR), and Pharmacy Council.


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1. Opening CeremonyThe conference officially began with the arrival of the Guest of Honour in the person of the

Honourable Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Rojo Mettle Nunoo. The opening ceremony was started

with a prayer by the President of the Council of Independent Churches, Apostle S. T. Doku. The

representative for the Director-General of CSIR who was the Chairperson for the Opening

Ceremony gave his remarks and in doing so commended NAF and its collaborators for holding such

an important conference to enhance the health care delivery in Ghana. He noted that the special

attention given by the conference to encourage partnership between the orthodox and herbal

medicine practitioners is noteworthy. The Chairpersons remarks were followed by a welcome

address by Mr. Kwasi Boakye-Akyeampong, the Executive Director of New Agenda Foundation.

He outlined the role the Foundation seeks to play in the promotion of quality health service delivery

by helping to bring the key stakeholders to sit, dialogue, and share experiences. NAF plans to make

this conference a yearly event.

Following the welcome address was a message of support from the Traditional Medicine Practice

Council (TMPC) given by Mr. Harrison Nimoh Agyemang on behalf of TMPC.

Afterwards, the keynote address was given by the Honourable Deputy Minister of Health, Rojo

Mettle Nunoo. The Deputy Minister commented that the Government of Ghana recognizes the

difficulty in bringing both the orthodox and herbal practitioners together and mentioned the efforts

of government in terms of policies to incorporate herbal medicine into mainstream medicine in

Ghana. He however emphasized that the Herbal practitioners should be prepared to subject their

work to rigorous scientific and clinical tests.


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2. Plenary SessionsThe conference was in two Plenary Sessions.

2.1.Session 1Chairperson: Dr. Godfred Frempong - CSIR-STEPRI

2.1.1. The Role of Herbal Medicine: Prospects and Challenges.Speaker: Professor M.L.K. Mensah, KNUST

Professor Mensahs presentation gave a general insight into herbal medicine as a

global system of healthcare, established in traditional medicine or complementary and

alternative medicine (CAM). He gave a general definition of medicine, and placed herbal

medicine in the context of a valid health care system, with the goal of delivering safe and

effective healthcare. He stressed that herbal medicines are the common denominator in

several healthcare techniques including: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda,

Naturopathy, Osteopathy, etc. This makes herbal medicine the most popular form of

traditional medicine practiced globally and a very lucrative business estimated to be worth

several billion dollars. He indicated that herbal medicine has a scientific basis and in modern

terms may be described as phytomedicine which has four basic rules with the same

paradigm as orthodox/conventional medicine including: dose-response and efficacy-

constituent relationships.

On the basis of the characteristics of phytomedicines, Professor Mensah hinted that

there are challenges arising from lack of attention paid to procedure in the practice such as

diagnosis, and to the products due to inadequate quality, safety and efficacy data. The

paucity of comprehensive standards must be overcome to assure safety and effectiveness

which serve as basis for evidence based practice. However, in the face of developments in

science and technology prospects for its growth and development exist. These are supported

by reports in the Cochrane review library that herbal therapies are generally not harmful.In conclusion, he said that herbal medicine has great potential in both health and business

aspects and called on all stakeholders to support the industry; science and technology must


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be applied as necessary tools for modernization of the practice and products.

2.1.2. The Missing Link between Orthodox and Alternative Medicine PracticeSpeaker: Mr. David Nii Amankwa Addo, CEO, Good Life Natural Health Institute.

Mr Addo opened his presentation by acknowledging that there is indeed a vital link between

orthodox medicine and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practice.

What, in his opinion, is missing is about the central theme concerning health and well-being

and this can be addressed from the position of the whole person . There is a powerful link

between the mind, body and spirit, on one side, and health and disease, on the other. He

opines that the body and mind have an innate capability for self repair and this he said can

be supported and enhanced by appropriate conventional (orthodox) as well as

complementary or alternative (CAM) therapies.

Mr Addo mentioned that there should be a considered and systemic change (shift) from a

disease oriented, doctor and technology centred model into a health oriented patient centred

approach that understands and empowers the integration of body, mind, spirit and social

(society) or community in health care.

He mentioned a 2005 WHO publication that stated that the leading causes of illness in the

world were chronic diseases; strokes, cancers, diabetes, depression, high cholesterol and

added chronic digestion problems as from his observation from private practice.

He asserted that most chronic diseases are lifestyle based for instance, eating habits; high

proteins, acid foods, refined food, high calorie foods, high fat, greasy foods, etc. He however

acknowledged that there are cases where patients are genetically predisposed to such

diseases.

Mr Addo mentioned that while we take advantage of all the advances in modern science

with regard to detecting diseases early, understanding genetic underpinnings and or using

precise and targeted surgical interventions, we also need medicine that understands the

natural mechanisms of health that is part of the human body as well as practitioners who


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know how to put these modalities into use to help prevent illness or reverse and assist

persons to recover from their chronic disease states.

He concluded by admonishing the need to move from the position of addressing the

symptoms to giving due consideration to the whole person and said, this is the only way by

which we can begin to bridge the gap.

2.1.3. Codes, Standards and Ethics of Herbal Medicine PracticeSpeaker: Mr. Harrison Nimoh Agyemang, Traditional Medicine Council (TMPC) on

Behalf of Mr F. K. Hlortsi, Registrar, TMPC.

The presentation of Mr. F.K. Hlortsi-Akakpo, the Registrar of TMPC was made by Mr.

Harrison Nimoh Agyemang on behalf of the Council. The presentation addressed the

following; objectives, scope of work of TMPC, Traditional Medicine Practitioners - TMPs

relationship with the public, TMPs relation to colleague Practioners, TMPs relations to

patients, and TMPs relations to their chosen profession.

Mr. Nimoh emphasized the importance of TMPs in health care delivery and urged the

practitioners to familiarise themselves with and adhere to the codes and ethics of their

profession which require them to do everything right in the course of their practice in order

not to fall foul of the law. He said this will help weed out the fake ones among them, win

public confidence, and also attract governments support and cooperation.

2.1.4. General Discussions: Session 1Some of the issues that came up during discussions were:

Recent arrests of members of mostly herbal practitioners has put some fear intotheir members as a result they would have been happy if the FDB had been

present to answer some questions

They appealed to the government through the Deputy Minister of Health to assistthem by ensuring that the impediments put their way in the form of exorbitant

fees and cumbersome approval processes are eliminated.


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They feel they also contribute to the economy in the form of employment andtherefore need to be encouraged.

They also seek to be recognized by the GMA as part of the health care deliverysystem

The government should encourage and create more opportunities for graduates ofthe Herbal Medicine programme at KNUST

The Deputy Minister assured them that the government is prepared to work withthem but they should also be prepared to follow the rules and regulations because

health care is about life and the government would not compromise on standards.

For instance, if they are willing to subject their preparations to rigorous scientific

and clinical testing like orthodox drugs go through then they would have all the

support from government. He mentioned that the government is not just sitting

idle but taking proactive measures by encouraging the formation of supporting

institutions like TMPC and TAMP as self regulatory bodies for their particular

practice. There are also training programmes, workshops and conferences the

government is supporting to help them improve and to enhance public

confidence.

2.2.Session 2Chairperson: Dr Margaret Price, HIV & AIDS Consultant

2.2.1. The Role of Orthodox and Traditional Medicine in Promoting Quality HealthCare Delivery

Speaker: Mr. Stephen Osafo-Mensah, Senior Research Scientist, Center for Scientific

Research into Plant Medicine, Mampong-Akwapim.

Mr. Osafo Mensahs presentation centered on five key areas namely; Traditional medicine in

Ghana, Concept of disease in traditional medicine, Concepts of herbal medicine, and the role

TMP can play in the total health care delivery system.

Tracing the origin of tradition medicine to the pre-colonial era he recounted the immense

benefits traditional medicine has brought to our health care delivery system. He highlighted

the challenges facing the herbal industry and called on the government to put in place


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mechanisms that would ensure a good partnership between orthodox and herbal medicine

practitioners.

He also urged herbal medicine practitioners to be mindful of their work and make sure that

in the course of their duty they do the right thing by abiding by all the necessary regulations

and codes governing the industry.

2.2.2. Roles and Responsibilities of Key Health Institutions in Promoting QualityHealth Care Delivery

Speaker: Mrs. Susanna Larbi Wumbee, Ghana Health Service

The presentation discussed key issues like definition of quality health care, key health

institutions, roles and responsibilities of key institutions, challenges and , way forward.

She emphasise that quality health care requires safe interventions, meeting clients needs,

having unique management practices, strong leadership and teamwork, and finally

impacting positively on morbidity, disability and mortality. In doing all these the

presentation revealed that certain attributes are also required to make quality health care

attainable. These are access to service, clean environment, safety, good health outcomes,

good staff attitude, prudent use of resources, adherence to performance standards and

qualified and competent staff.

Key health institutions mentioned included to help achieve this are Ministry of Health,

Ghana Health Service, Teaching Hospitals, Quasi Health Institutions, Traditional Medicine,

Health Development Partners, etc

In spite of the numerous challenges like shortage of health staff, poor staff attitude, lack of

logistics and equipment, the presentation called for the implementation of incentive

packages, customer care programmes for staff, data quality audit for reliable data, and also

instituting an award scheme to reward hard working staff.


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2.2.3. General Discussions Session 2Following are some of the key issues raised by participants:

Fees charged by FDB is too high and thus gives practitioners the incentive tocircumvent the process

The process involved in certifying drugs is also too cumbersome The TMPs called on the government to come to their aid and put in place proper

mechanisms to help them carry out their legal business.

An appeal was made to the regulatory bodies like TMPC, MOH, and FDB toorganize periodic training programmes for the practitioners to enhance their

knowledge and practice.

Herbal medicine has both health and business potential therefore all stakeholdersshould support the industry. The following, among others, are some of the potentials

discussed:

o Employment opportunitieso Foreign income earnero Positive effect on balance of trade by way of reducing the amount of drugs

we import

o Offer cheaper alternative to healthcare

3.Way ForwardAt the closing of the conference it was obvious that all the participants were in accord about the

need to get the orthodox and herbal medicine practitioners to collaborate and complement each

other in the delivery of quality health care. And for this to happen, it requires some effort from

government through policies and programmes by the Ministry of Health and other key regulatory

institutions like the Food and Drugs Board.

The following points are therefore to be communicated to all stakeholders to form a basis of

measurement of progress when the conference convenes again next year.

1. It is important to integrate alternative medicine into the mainstream medicine2. Periodic training and workshops should be organized for herbal practitioners3. Government must provide financial and technical support for the herbal industry


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4. The various regulatory bodies must put proper measures in place to enhance thedevelopment of alternative medicine

5. Quack practitioners must be made to face the full rigors of the law6. FDB should review its relationship with TMPs7. Efforts should be made to bring GMA, MDC, Pharmacy Council to work with TMPC8. A conference to bring all stakeholders on the table to discuss issues pertaining to the

integration of orthodox and alternative or complementary medicine should be made an

annual affair.

4.Closing RemarksThe closing remarks were given by Kwasi Boakye-Akyeampong (Executive Director, NAF) and

Atta Kwaku Boadi (Programmes Director, NAF). They both thanked the speakers, collaborators,

planning committee members, participants, and volunteers for their part in making the programme a

success. They also emphasized that every effort would be made to make this event an annual affair

and promised to get all the stakeholders on board in subsequent years.

They admonished practitioners not to be discouraged by the challenges and rather see themselves as

pioneers and pace-setters who would have to chart a cause for future generations of practitioners.

Practitioners were also to continue to seek for improvement and encourage the adoption of industry

best practices as a way of gaining public confidence and collaborate with institutions like TMPC

and TAMP. NAF believes with the introduction of a degree programme in Herbal Medicine at

KNUST, it is hoped gradually, the public will give the practice the respect and recognition it

deserves.

Documents

Report on Orthodox and Herbal Confab[1]