The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has launched a major enforcement exercise in the Greater Accra Region following its investigation that revealed more than 17 health facilities operating without proper authorisation.

The ongoing crackdown targets massage centres, gymnasiums, chiropractic facilities, traditional healing centres, and other establishments accused of operating without the required regulatory approval.

Officials say the exercise forms part of a wider national effort to ensure that all health facilities operate in line with the required safety and operational standards.

According to authorities, the move is part of a wider nationwide effort to ensure that all facilities meet the necessary operational and safety standards to protect public health.

To operate a traditional medicine facility in Ghana, a practitioner must be registered with the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) and obtain a licence for their premises.

The facility and its herbal products are also subject to regulations from the Food and Drug Authority (FDA).

The Registrar of the TMPC, Dr Yakubu T. Yusuf, explained that the exercise was essential to safeguard the public from unqualified practitioners who could pose serious risks.

Operating a traditional medicine facility without the proper registration and licences is a criminal offence. Penalties can include: 

• Fines and/or imprisonment.
• Temporary or permanent closure of the practice.
• Suspension or cancellation of a practitioner's registration or facility licence. 

“So if we as a council do not act, a lot of these quacks provide services that could endanger the lives of the public. Eighty per cent of Ghanaians rely on traditional medicine for their primary healthcare. This makes their services very essential, and there is a need to protect the public and ensure that the people who know what they are doing are the ones in this space,” he said.

He described quacks as individuals without the right training or qualifications who continue to operate illegally in the health sector.

“Quacks are essentially people who do not have the qualification, but yet they’re in the same space. If you are not a quack, the point is to do what you’re supposed to do, which is to register with the Traditional Medicine Practice Council, go through our training, and get licensed to practice,” he explained.

Dr Yakubu further noted that the council’s oversight extends beyond licensing practitioners, as it also ensures that products and premises meet set standards.

“We have oversight responsibility over your practice as well as your premises. Because beyond having a licence, we need to be sure that your products meet standards. We can come into your facility, and our inspectors can take your products and do random sampling to ensure they meet the necessary standards,” he said.

He added that many of the affected facilities had already been contacted and invited to regularise their operations but had failed to comply.

“All of this we’ll be doing around this time, and if your facility is not registered—for most of the facilities we are going to—we’ve already written to them, we’ve spoken to them, and we’ve invited them. Some are just recalcitrant,” he added.

The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) is a statutory body established under the Traditional Medicine Practice Act, 2000 (Act 575) to regulate traditional and alternative healthcare in Ghana.

The Council operates under the Ministry of Health and is responsible for registering, licensing, and monitoring traditional medicine practitioners and their facilities across the country.

By law, no individual or facility is permitted to provide traditional medical services without a valid licence from the Council.

The TMPC also ensures that herbal products and treatment practices meet approved safety and quality standards and that practitioners possess the necessary training and qualifications.