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The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) under the Ministry of Health has reminded and cautioned all unlicensed and illegally operating practitioners and facilities to take steps to regularize their operations with the council within thirty (30 days).

The ultimatum according to TMPC took effect from March 11, 2016 where all unlicensed and illegally operating practitioners and facilities have up to April 11, 2016 as deadline to take steps to regularize their operations.

The Registrar of Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), of Ministry of Health, Torgbuiga Yaka IV, indicated in the press statement copied to Peacefmonline.com that failure of the unlicensed and illegally operating practitioners to regularize their operations will face severe sanctions and other multiple penalties for contravening the law.

The statement preceded a sting inspection and enforcement exercise within Accra and its environs. TMPC is a Regulatory Agency of the Ministry of Health and the Statutory Regulatory Agency that is responsible for the promotion, control and regulation of traditional and alternative medicine practice in the country.

Torgbuiga Yaka IV, Registrar for TMPC, however reminded all traditional and alternative medicine practitioners and premises that it is mandatory for all practitioners and premises to register, be licensed and accredited by the Council, failing that would attract severe sanctions as provided by the law.

REGULATION

The law that regulates the promotion, control and regulation of traditional and alternative medicine practice and profession in the country is known as the Traditional Medicine Practice Act, Act 575, 2000.

Act 575 more so is very explicit as espoused in clauses 9 and 17 that made it mandatory and required for all practitioners, to be licensed by TMPC, failure which is an offence that attracts severe sanctions.

Explaining further, the Registrar disclosed that TMPC’s mandate covers SPAs, Wellness Centers, traditional birth attendants, chemical sellers, herbalists, medical herbalists, healing prayer or camp operators, mallams, psychic spiritualists, raw material dealers, medical plant cultivators and herbal medicine manufacturers.

Torgbuiga Yaka IV also alerted the unsuspecting public to be wary of practitioners whose products and services they patronize, hinting practitioners must hold TMPC valid license and accreditation and must be conspicuously displayed in the practice premises.

The TMPC Boss again assured the public that “traditional medicine practitioners and the products are safe and efficacious, safe and reliable, are very noble and reliable professionals, but don’t include or involve money doubling or magical powers that aimed to make people very rich overnight; money doubling is a fraud and criminal, which must not be entertained”.

The Registrar reaffirmed the Council’s determination to chase out all charlatans in the profession to instill sanity and confidence in the profession, especially as the Ministry of Health takes steps to integrate traditional and alternative medicine into an improved national healthcare delivery system for a healthy and a strong society.

The Registrar reminded all practitioners to renew their licenses in compliment to clauses 9 and 17, to facilitate unhindered and smooth practice.

The Registrar appealed and called on the public to effectively join hands with the Council to stamp-out quackery in the profession, saying regulation is and must be a shared responsibility between the statutory agencies and the public for the good of all.

“TMPC alone cannot discharge its mandatory responsibilities effectively without the public’s co-operation, please don’t hesitate to report to the Council practitioners who may misconduct themselves for sanctioning, our doors are open and we are obliged to ensure and safeguard public health and safety at all times,” the Registrar concluded.