Tema, Nov. 26, GNA – Mrs Irene Naa Torshie Addo, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West, has called on the Ministry of Health to include traditional herbal remedies in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

She said this would encourage traditional medical practitioners to improve on their services to meet the health needs of their patients.

Mrs Addo who made the call when she donated some items to the Aponche Memorial and Herbal Clinic (AMHC), said it would help alleviate the plight of many patients who would not be able to afford the “cash and carry” system at private herbal centres.

The donated items included 20 bags of cement, eight pieces of student’s mattresses, eight pillows and an amount of GH¢500.

Mrs Addo said AMHC which had improved tremendously in treating bone-related diseases lacked certain vital equipment and was optimistic that the donation would help improve facilities at the clinic.

She appealed to the government to invest some more in Ghanaian goods including indigenous medicines to ensure quality healthcare delivery.

Mrs Addo promised that revenue generated from the Tema General Hospital Endowment Fund would be extended to the various clinics in the metropolis including the Tema Polyclinic and the AMHC.

Mr Michael Owusu Awuah, who represented the Board Chairman of the Clinic, thanked the MP for her kind gesture and appealed to other public-spirited organisations to emulate her example.

He said the poor road-network to the clinic was a major challenge because commercial vehicles refused to come there any time it rained and the few who did charged exorbitant fares.