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September 5, 2026
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Herbal Medicine: Less than 15% practitioners registered
Money
Policy
Opportunity
Growth
Key Points
- Less than 15% of over 100,000 traditional medicine practitioners in Ghana are registered with the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), hindering proper regulatory oversight.
- The TMPC is actively engaging practitioners, opening new regional/district offices, and inspecting premises, leading to the closure of some risky facilities.
- The public is urged to patronize only licensed practitioners and products, verifying licenses via QR codes, and warned against unregulated social media marketers.
- The council collaborates with the FDA for product certification and warns unregistered practitioners of prosecution, fines (up to GH¢6,000), and imprisonment (up to two years).
- Efforts are underway to improve practitioner training with a new competency-based curriculum and to boost investment in research into traditional medicine, supported by universities and international partners.
Why This Matters
With 70% of Ghana's population relying on traditional medicine, the widespread lack of regulation poses significant public health risks from unqualified practitioners and unsafe products. The TMPC's efforts to increase registration, enforce standards, and invest in research are crucial for formalizing this vital sector, ensuring patient safety, and potentially integrating credible traditional medicine practices into the national healthcare system.
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