Takoradi, Aug. 22, GNA - Professor Laud Okie, Director of Scientific Research into Plant Medicines at Mampong Akwapim, has emphasised the need for an effective and affordable scientific-based herbal medicines that would enhance the sustenance of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He was speaking during an exhibition of herbal preparations by 200 herbal practitioners from the Western and Central regions in Takoradi on Tuesday.

It was organised by the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association to select herbal medicines for scientific testing for the treatment of malaria, diabetics, hypertension and other diseases at health facilities in the country.

Professor Okie enumerated some of the benefits the country stands to gain, if herbal medicines were approved for subscription for patients by hospitals in the country.

Mrs Edith Annan, World Health Organisation (WHO) Country director responsible for essential medicine including traditional medicines urged herbal medicine practitioner to register with the Register General's Department and the Food and Drugs Board to enable them to "reap the full benefits of their works".

She emphasised the role of traditional herbal medicines in national development and cited the examples of China and India. Mrs. Margaret Anderson, Western Regional chairperson of the association called on the members to unite and promote their products for the benefit of the people.

She asked genuine traditional herbal practitioners to help to eliminate quacks, whose activities goes to tarnish the image of the association and advised those, who had not registered with the association to do so.

Mr Koku Korkor, Director of Pharmacy of the Ghana Police Service called on members of the association to make information on their products clearer to the public.

He called for improvement in the packaging of herbal products to enhance patronage by the public.

Mr George Agyemfra, Deputy Director at the Traditional and Alternative Medicines Directorate of the Ministry of Health and member of the task team for the selection of the herbal products said the Ministry is working with the Attorney General's Department to enact "Intellectual Property Act" to prevent the duplication of herbal products. Nana Kwadwo Ob iri, National organiser of the association announced that a national exhibition of herbal medicines would be held at the Volta regional capital on August 31, 2006. Mr Neizer Anansey-Tei one of the exhibitors, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, commended the Ministry of Health for the efforts to promote herbal medicines, describing the programme as timely. He expressed the hope that the programme would be sustained and not made a nine-day wonder. 22 Aug. 06