The Department of Herbal Medicine at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, has called for stronger scientific research, increased investment and enhanced collaboration to promote evidence-based herbal medicine and its integration into mainstream healthcare.

The call was made at a scientific conference organised as part of activities marking the Department's 25th anniversary under the theme, "25 Years of Advancing Herbal Medicine Education and Research: Strengthening Evidence-Based Practice for Global Health and Sustainable Development."

Chairman of the 25th Anniversary Planning Committee, Professor Isaac Kingsley Amponsah, reflected on the establishment of the Bachelor of Herbal Medicine programme in 2001, describing it as the first of its kind in Africa.

"What began as a bold and pioneering vision has, over a quarter of a century, matured into a respected academic discipline that continues to shape the landscape of traditional and complementary medicine on the continent," he said.

Professor Amponsah, however, said wider acceptance of herbal medicine depends on stronger scientific evidence.

"A key barrier to the wider acceptance and integration of herbal medicine continues to be the availability of robust scientific evidence in support of the practice," he said.

Delivering the Provost's address, Professor Fred Stephen Sarfo, Vice-Dean of the School of Medical Sciences, stressed that traditional knowledge must be supported by scientific validation.

"Traditional knowledge is valuable, but therapeutic claims must be supported by rigorous research, proper standardisation, clinical evaluation, regulation and continuous monitoring of safety," he said.

He added that the future of herbal medicine must also be guided by sustainability and the One Health approach, which recognises the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health.

"Medicinal plants depend on healthy soils, forests, water systems and ecosystems. The development of herbal medicine must therefore promote sustainable cultivation, responsible harvesting, biodiversity conservation and environmental protection," he said.

Professor Sarfo also urged greater investment in the sector, saying herbal medicine could strengthen healthcare delivery, expand local pharmaceutical production, create jobs and contribute to national development.

"As a nation, we need to make bold investment in herbal medicine to tap into the 70-billion-dollar market," he said.

He added that KNUST's Plan 2K35 supports increased investment in herbal medicine, with the long-term vision of developing the Department into a faculty or school.

Delivering the keynote address on "Harnessing Africa's Medicinal Plants for Health and Economic Development," Professor Regina Appiah-Oppong of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, highlighted the importance of integrating herbal medicine into primary healthcare to improve access to health services, support Universal Health Coverage and stimulate economic growth.

She identified inadequate clinical studies, safety concerns, poor standardisation, product adulteration and limited funding as major challenges confronting the sector.

Cautioning against the assumption that natural products are inherently safe, Professor Appiah-Opong said, "Herbal medicines are perceived as 'natural' and therefore risk-free, but this is not always true."

She called for stronger research, quality assurance systems and sustained investment to enable Ghana to fully harness the health and economic potential of its medicinal plant resources.

Dr. (MH) Andrews William Tetteh, Chief Medical Herbalist at Kumasi South Hospital of the Ghana Health Service, highlighted Ghana's progress in integrating herbal medicine into the formal healthcare system.

Speaking on "Medical Herbalist-Led Integrated Medicine Practice in Ghana Health Service: The Story So Far," he traced the policy's evolution from the amendment of the national health policy in 2005, through the establishment of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council in 2010, to the pilot integration of herbal medicine services in 19 public hospitals between 2011 and 2012. He said the initiative has since expanded to 55 hospitals nationwide.

Dr. Tetteh said integrating herbal medicine into mainstream healthcare offers opportunities for improved regulation, reduced dependence on imported medicines, increased local production and job creation across the herbal medicine value chain.

However, he cautioned that misleading advertisements, quackery and unsubstantiated claims continue to undermine public confidence in the sector.

"The integration of herbal medicines into the mainstream healthcare in the country has come to stay. Its acceptance by all stakeholders is critical to the success of the policy," he said.

He also called for stronger collaboration between medical herbalists and conventional healthcare practitioners.

"Practitioners of both healthcare systems should see this integration as patient-centred and not to show prowess or discriminate against one another," he said.

Professor Mohamed Mutocheluh, Professor of Virology at KNUST's School of Medical Sciences, called for stronger partnerships between traditional medicine practitioners, researchers, academic institutions and regulatory bodies to transform Ghana's indigenous herbal knowledge into globally competitive health products.

Presenting on "Transforming Local Herbal Knowledge into Global Health Solutions," he said Ghana's comparative advantage lies in its rich biodiversity and traditional medicine heritage but noted that these strengths must be supported by scientific research, standardisation, clinical validation, quality control and intellectual property protection.

"Our strength and advantage is our local herbal knowledge, traditional medicine and biodiversity. But there should be connections; there should be partnerships with academia and scientists," he said.

Professor Mutocheluh said collaboration with institutions such as the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) would be essential to ensuring herbal products meet quality and safety standards, thereby improving their acceptance in domestic and international markets.

He added that scientific validation and effective regulation would enable Ghana to develop globally competitive herbal products and position the country to benefit from the global herbal medicine industry, valued at more than US$200 billion.

Story: Abigail Ofori   Photos: Michael Kwawu