The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has reiterated its authority as the regulatory body overseeing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices in Ghana.
In a recent statement, the TMPC acknowledged facing resistance from some practitioners in the CAM sector during its intensified routine monitoring exercises over the past year. These practitioners have argued that the Traditional Medicine Practice (TMP) Act 2000 (Act 575) does not explicitly include them under its regulatory scope.
However, the TMPC, through its Head of Public Affairs, Numo Blafo III, countered this argument by referencing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of traditional medicine. According to the WHO, traditional medicine encompasses “the sum total of knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures that are used to maintain health, as well as to prevent, diagnose, improve or treat physical and mental illnesses.” The TMPC emphasized that this definition covers a broad range of therapies beyond conventional medicine.
The statement also highlighted the preamble of the TMP Act 2000 (Act 575), which mandates the Council to register practitioners, license practices, and regulate the preparation and sale of herbal medicines, among other responsibilities.
To further support its position, the TMPC pointed to Section 38 of the TMP Act, which grants the Minister of Health the authority to issue policy directives to the Council. Based on this provision, the late former Minister of Health, Hon. Major Courage E.K. Quarshigah (Rtd), issued the “Policy and Administrative Guidelines on Complementary/Alternative Medicine Practice” in November 2008. This directive expanded the TMPC’s regulatory mandate to include the CAM industry alongside indigenous traditional medicine practices in Ghana.
As a result, the TMPC now regulates various CAM-related establishments, including spas, gyms, wellness centers in hotels, nutritional health shops, beauty and facial treatment centers using herbal or organic products, massage centers, reflexology, aromatherapy, and radionics practitioners.
The Council has made it clear that CAM practitioners in Ghana are subject to its regulation under both the TMP Act 2000 (Act 575) and the WHO’s definition of traditional medicine. Any practitioner who refuses to comply is in violation of Section 39 of the Act.
“Any practitioner who contravenes this regulation commits an offence and, upon summary conviction, may face a fine of up to 500 penalty units or a prison term of up to two years—or both. In the case of a continuing offence, an additional fine of five penalty units will be imposed for each day the violation persists after written notice has been served,” the TMPC warned. Additionally, the court has the power to order the temporary or permanent closure of non-compliant CAM practices.
The TMPC urged all CAM practitioners to adhere to the law and cooperate with its regulatory processes to ensure compliance and the safety of the public.
SOURCE: http://dew360.net
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