Include Herbal Medications to NHIS – GAFRAM

Government has been urged to initiate public discussion on the inclusion of herbal medications on the National Health Insurance Scheme so patients who patronize herbal clinic can also benefit from the scheme.

The appeal was made by the Volta Regional Treasurer of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine (GAFRAM), Alberta Asare, who Chaired an a ceremony to officially launch Adehye Herbal Clinic at Anum.

According to her, patients find it difficult to attend herbal health facilities due to the cost involved

“I must admit that the cost of herbal treatment and its medications is relatively high and this is because of the cost involved in producing and testing the medicine by the mandatory bodies responsible as their charges are also very high,” she stated.

She said the only way out is for government to subsidize the charges at the Center for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine, Noguchi and the Food and Drugs Authority and also enroll herbal treatment on the National Health Insurance Scheme just like Orthodox medications and treatment.

Alberta Asare who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Albertisam Herbal Center in Ho applauded the government for accepting to attach a herbal treatment department to the hospitals in the country to administer herbal medicine to patients, she mentioned the Volta Regional hospital as one of the few which has started implementing the initiative.

She appealed to the Ministry of Health to as a matter of urgency see to it that every hospital in the country is attached with a herbalist to help save the lives of the ordinary Ghanaians. She also advised Ghanaians to look out for the registration code from food and drugs Authority on each herbal product that comes their way before patronage.

Chief Executive of Adehye Herbal clinic who is also the Adontenghene and the Acting president of the Anum Traditional Council, Okogyeaman Kwasi Anyane V, appealed to Nana Akufo-Addo not to forget about the importance of herbal treatment as he works to fulfill his one-district one-factory promise. He again advocated proper education on requirements for producing a medicine in the country and also do routine monitoring.

Source: William Dei-Gyau