A retired medical officer is calling on the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to take decisive action against fraudulent herbalists who are exploiting the health concerns of citizens for personal gain.
Dr. Alfred Morrison, a former medical officer at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, expressed his concerns in an interview, highlighting the need for stricter oversight of herbal practitioners.
Dr. Morrison’s call to action was prompted by a recent incident involving his grandson.
. While he was away, his grandson complained of a headache, and the child’s mother sought medication from a local herbalist.
Upon his return, Dr. Morrison discovered that his grandson had been given capsules purchased from a roadside herbalist.
Suspecting foul play, he examined the capsules and was shocked to find that they contained sawdust.
When Dr. Morrison confronted the herbalist, he was met with defiance. The herbalist allegedly claimed that the FDA was aware of his operations and that his products were approved.
He further added that radio stations charge huge sum of money from them for advertisement and some FDA officials also collect money and for that reason they have stratized measures to make survival.
The herbalist reportedly brushed off Dr. Morrison’s concerns, telling him to direct his inquiries to the FDA.
Dr. Morrison revealed that his grandson was charged GHC 1000 for the fake herbal drugs.
The herbalist has since disappeared, and his phone number is no longer in service.
Dr. Morrison expressed his concern that these fraudulent herbalists are emboldened by a lack of enforcement and are using the FDA’s name to deceive the public.
He appealed to the FDA to take swift action against these wrongdoers.
In addition to calling for FDA intervention, Dr. Morrison also urged radio stations to exercise greater responsibility in the advertisement of herbal products.
- He emphasized the need for radio stations to verify the efficacy and safety of these products before allowing them to be advertised on their platforms.
