X-Pharm Consult, a pharmaceutical advocacy group, has expressed concern about the spate of unauthorised herbal advertisements in the electronic and print media.

The group indicated that Schedule Two of the Food and Drugs Act 1992 (PNDCL 3058), strictly prohibits advertisement on treatment, prevention or cure of ailments including sexually-transmitted infections, heart diseases, diabetes, amenorrhea and tuberculosis, but herbal facilities across the country continue to flout the directive with impunity.

A statement signed by Mr Kwame Peprah Boaitey, Executive Secretary of X-Pharm in Dormaa-Ahenkro, noted that, the advertisements had become a source of worry to Ghanaians as most of them tend to claim cure for all manner of diseases including chronic medical conditions such as tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS.

“It is evident that most individuals who were doing well in their orthodox medications have on several occasions been deceived into believing that they could be free from their chronic diseases following the adoption of herbal medicine but most have ended up with serious medical complications and even death,” the statement added.

The group observed that the role of herbal medicine in the over-all health care in Ghana could not be over-emphasised, nonetheless the spate of lies and deception being perpetuated through the advertisements in the media could only worsen the medical conditions of persons suffering from chronic diseases.

The statement stated that if Ghana is to attain the Millennium Development Goals on health, then these practices must immediately be checked as they had the potential to thwart the nation’s efforts at managing HIV and AIDS and Tuberculosis.

It therefore called on the Ministry of Health, Food and Drugs Board, the Traditional Medicine Council and other stakeholders in the health sector, to as a matter of urgency, take a second look at “this disturbing phenomenon” to safeguard the health of Ghanaians.

The advocacy group said “The best investment any nation can make in its citizens is to ensure good health through access to efficacious, safe and affordable medicine.”**