The President of the Medical Superintendent’s Group, Ghana, Dr Kamarudeen Korku Hussein has made a passionate appeal to Ghanaian Medical Doctors to consider using herbal medicines that have scientifically backed data in their operations.

He observed that “Science is the bedrock of Orthodox medicine, hence herbal medicine based on Science certainly deserves an invitation to the dinner table.”
Dr Hussein made the call during the opening ceremony of the 20th Annual General Conference of the Medical Superintendents Group in Obuasi on Wednesday. It was on the theme “Leading Hospitals into the modern era: integrating herbal and orthodox medicine.

He said it is erroneous to classify all herbal medicines as harmful in the treatment and management of disease conditions. He recalled that during the COVID era, many people, including medical professionals resorted to the use of herbal medicines without questioning.

Dr Hussein enumerated the various orthodox medicines produced from plants that have since been in use globally.
“Morpheme, Quinine and Artesunate are all herbal sourced medicines that we prescribe daily, so why shouldn’t medical doctors prescribe a scientifically interrogated herbal product made in Ghana, he queried?”

He also dispelled the perception that orthodox medicines of western origin have the tendency to treat several conditions, adding that the moment the same is said of a scientifically tested herbal medicine produced locally, we express our misgivings. He said this attitude among medical professionals is not born out of nature but is nurtured.
Relative to the concerns of many on the unregulated manner in which locally produced herbal medicines are promoted in the media, Dr Hussein noted that the conference would come out with proposals to help shape the policies of the Ministry of Health towards the integration.

The Medical Superintendents’ Group is an association of all Directors of government and some selected private hospitals in Ghana.
The conference was chaired by the Founder and President General of The COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited, Professor Samuel Ato Duncan, whiles Nana Professor Mensa Bonsu, Asakyirehene represented the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu the II as Special Guest of Honour. Also in attendance were the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Pattrick Kuma-Aboagye and Dr Frank Serebuor, President of the Ghana Medical Association.