Mankrong-Junction, Sept 13, GNA - The government has been called upon to provide credit facility for herbal medicine producers to enable them to operate effectively to complement the health delivery system. Hajia Fati Kamatey, Director of the Fathia Herbal Centre at Mankrong-Junction in the Agona East District made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the Centre on Friday. She said a credit facility for herbal medicine producers would enable them to improve their products and be competitive on the international market to earn foreign exchange for the country. Hajia Kamatey said just as the government had provided platforms for road contractors and other business operators to access funds for their activities, herbal medicine producers should also be considered to boost their business.

She said herbal medicine played a major role in the country's health delivery system and there was the need to create a facility to help the producers. Hajia Kamatey, who had herbal preparations for aliments such as stroke, barrenness and piles, appealed to the Ministry of Health, to include herbal clinics and preparations under the National Health Insurance Scheme.

She said herbal medicine producers encountered numerous problems in their operation and urged the government to provide adequate funds to support them. She called for assistance to purchase modern equipment and machines to improve her products and appealed to non-governmental organizations, foreign donors and corporate bodies for help to enable the centre to cater for more patients.