The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has stated that it is illegal for traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine practitioners to use professional titles without its approval.
It said that under Section 39 of the TMPC Act of 2000 (Act 575), any practitioner who used a title (such as Doctor) not given by the Council could face up to two years in prison or a fine.
Dr. Michael Kyeremateng, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, TMPC, issued the caution at a meeting with national officers of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Accra.
The meeting formed part of the Council’s efforts to engage all relevant stakeholders in the quest to revamp the activities of the TMPC, sensitise the public, and advocate for professionalism in the traditional medicine sector.
At the meeting, the GJA and the Council agreed to organise training programmes for media practitioners as part of measures to build their capacity and ensure informed reportage on issues relating to herbal medicine.
Dr. Kyeremateng expressed concern about the inappropriate use of titles among traditional herbal practitioners and appealed to the media to address them according to the titles specified on their practicing licenses.
“A lot of people come on air and claim to be doctors. Whether that title has been given to them by the Council is another question of concern.
“If you are a traditional herbalist, you are given T-Doctor, which stands for Traditional Doctor and qualifies the kind of service you offer.
The same applies to Native Doctor (N-Doctor), Doctor Medical Herbal (MH) among other specialised titles that are approved by the Council,” he said.
Dr. Kyeremateng advised all practitioners to renew or secure licenses with the Council to promote public safety in the administration of herbal medicines.
Mrs Linda Asante Agyei urged the Council to do more public education and sensitise consumers and practitioners on the rules governing traditional medicine practice to protect the safety of consumers.
She expressed the readiness of the GJA to partner with the Council to train journalists on the operations of the Council and to champion positive practices in the sector.
Traditional medicine, which includes herbal medicine, spiritual healing, and indigenous health practices, has been used for centuries in Africa and remains a vital component of healthcare for many communities.
The TMPC said herbal treatments are the most popular form of traditional medicine and about 70 to 80 percent of the population used herbal treatments as their source of primary healthcare.
