Traditional medicine practitioners to abide by Code of Ethics

The Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (GHAFTRAM) on Wednesday called on all practitioners to abide by laws guiding the practice of traditional medicine.

Nana Kwadwo Obiri, Chairman of the National Co-ordinating, Evaluation and Monitoring Committee of GHAFTRAM, told a press conference in Accra that they had realised that some practitioners and individuals operating in the sector were not following the required standards and regulations.

He noted that with traditional medicine covering about 70 to 80 per cent of the health care delivery in the country it was critical that practitioners adhered to the required standards and regulations of practice as embodied in the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) Law and Code of Ethics, Food and Drugs Board Law and the GHAFTRAM Constitution.

Nana Obiri said in order to promote quality and maximize the benefits of traditional medicine, the Committee was urging all practitioners to register with GHAFTRAM and also with the TMPC in accordance with the law.

He said the practitioners should also collaborate with the office of GHAFTRAM for advice on advertisements to ensure that all adverts followed the FDB and TMPC Laws.

He further urged members to boldly display their GHAFTRAM cards and TMPC certificates at their premises, stressing that the National Co-ordinating, Evaluation and Monitoring Committee would be visiting their premises to ensure compliance.

Nana Obiri appealed to the media to desist from hyping the approved scripts of advertisements and promotions submitted by their clients, as such activities often led to the violation of the law and code of ethics of the practice.

He said GHAFTRAM would not hesitate to apply the necessary sanctions in accordance with the constitution and code of ethics if traditional medicine practitioners flouted the law.

Source: GNA