According to the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), practitioners of integrative, complementary, and traditional medicine are not permitted to use their professional names without the council’s consent.
It said that any practitioner who used a title (like Doctor) that was not granted by the Council might be subject to up to two years in prison or a fine under Section 39 of the TMPC Act of 2000 (Act 575).
The cautionary note was given by Dr. Michael Kyeremateng, TMPC’s registrar and chief executive officer, during a meeting in Accra with national GJA authorities.
The GJA and the Council agreed at the meeting to provide media practitioners with training programs in order to enhance their skills and guarantee accurate reporting on matters concerning 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 practising
licenses.
“Many people pretend to be doctors when they go on television. Another matter of concern is whether the Council bestowed that title upon them.
Dr. Kyeremateng cautioned all practitioners to obtain new licenses from the Council or renew existing ones in order to increase public safety when dispensing herbal remedies.
In order to safeguard the public’s safety, Mrs. Linda Asante Agyei encouraged the Council to undertake greater public education and sensitise practitioners and consumers to the regulations governing the practice of traditional medicine.
She stated that the GJA is prepared to work with the Council to educate journalists about the Council’s operations and to promote ethical business practices.
