Some of the health stakeholders at the event
The Director of Drugs and Herbal Medicine Registration at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Samuel Asante Boateng, has called on health sector stakeholders to prioritise product safety and align with international standards.
Speaking at a stakeholder dialogue organised by the Health CEOs and Scientists Network in Accra on May 22, 2025, Boateng emphasised FDA’s uncompromising stance on safety, particularly in the herbal and traditional medicine space.
“We have to make sure that the safety of products is ensured before we register, otherwise the FDA will be blamed.
“We at the FDA have raised our standards, so we also call on the stakeholders to meet such standards, which align with the international ones,” he stated.
The event, themed “Raising Standards in Meeting Global Demands,” brought together major regulatory agencies including the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HEFRA) and the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) to engage practitioners and stakeholders on regulation, safety, and innovation.
Kwame Dzikunu, President of the Health CEOs and Scientists Network, said the event was organised to bridge the communication gap between regulators and practitioners.
“We want to understand their activities and also share the challenges we face in enhancing outstanding health practices in the country,” he said.
He also announced the upcoming 14th Health CEOs and Legends Awards scheduled for August 28, 2025.
From the regulatory front, Dr Agyemang Badu, Director of Compliance and Enforcement at HEFRA, revealed plans to expand regulation to new categories of health service providers such as telemedicine facilities, home help services, and medical spas.
“We are in discussions with the Health Ministry to regulate these emerging facilities,” he said.
“We are also going after all facilities that operate without a license or with expired licenses.”
Dr Yakubu Yusuf Torbor, Acting Registrar of TMPC, outlined an aggressive strategy to expand licensing and regulation across the country.
“TMPC is going regional, we are clearing licensing backlogs and setting up physical presence across districts to make it easier for practitioners to register.”
He added that TMPC is partnering with state agencies and security services to clamp down on unlicensed traditional medicine practitioners.
“Traditional medicine is huge, and its economic value is big,” Dr Torbor noted.
“We are using advocacy and policy to integrate all practitioners into a regulated, credible system that can serve the public better.”
AM/GA