Accra: The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has initiated a robust compliance exercise targeting unauthorized operators within Accra, aiming to uphold public safety and enforce the Traditional Medicine Practice Act, 2000, Act 575. This act strictly prohibits quackery and mandates registration and licensing for practitioners and facilities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the operation commenced in the Adentan Municipality, focusing on ensuring adherence to the legal requirements of the Act. Section 17 of the Act stipulates that only licensed individuals can own or operate traditional medicine practices, while Section 39 outlines penalties for unregistered operations and unauthorized services.
The ongoing compliance exercise, set to continue until the year's end, involves officials from TMPC's Compliance and Enforcement Department actively shutting down unlicensed herbal shops and confiscating unauthorized products. Michael Lawson, Head of Compliance, Enforcement and Inspection at TMPC, stated that closure and confiscation are last-resort measures, implemented after attempts to engage offenders and issue urgent letters demanding licensing compliance.
In the recent crackdown, herbal products were seized from the Adentan branch of Lucky Herbal Shops, and Kofi Herbal Products, which had been operating for over a decade without a license, faced similar actions. Other establishments like Ultra Spa, lacking licenses for both the facility and massage therapists, and Vickyadobs Ventures Organic Health Shop, along with Edu Herbal Clinic, were also shut down.
Mr. Lawson emphasized that the objective is not to dismantle businesses but to ensure safety and compliance. He pointed out gaps where shop or clinic owners might hold licenses, but those engaged in processes like herb washing and bottling, who are also considered practitioners under the Act, often do not.
To enhance regulatory compliance, Mr. Lawson mentioned plans for a comprehensive platform to be launched next year, listing practitioners in good standing for public reference. Currently, TMPC comprises over 30 associations with more than 100,000 members, having licensed about 6,000 members last year and 2,000 this year.
The Council's jurisdiction covers a range of practitioners, including herbalists, traditional doctors, faith healers, and various alternative medicine professionals. Felix Kofi Adzofu, a herbalist whose operations were impacted, expressed frustration over the licensing process, stating his attempts had been met with bureaucratic challenges, despite customer demand for non-chemical remedies.
The traditional medicine industry in Ghana is a significant sector, with approximately 70 percent of the population relying on it for healthcare, generating GhS 2 billion in revenue in 2023.