Submission ID 130797
| Issue/Objective | Based on the recommendations of World Health Organization (WHO) healthcare systems globally including Ghana for the past decades have embraced Traditional Medicine (TM) practice to complement the orthodox or biomedical practice for healthcare delivery. Currently, there is access to herbal medicine in 55 health facilities in Ghana. According to WHO, the utilization of TM items exceeds that of conventional medications by two to three times on a global scale. Ironically, even though over 70% of Ghanaians rely on TM for various health reasons, practitioners of TM are marginalized, excluded and discriminated against in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Ghana's health system has seen numerous changes and revolutions since gaining independence, but health policy-makers still struggle to offer its rapidly expanding population an EQUITY IN ACTION affordable, suitable, complete, and efficient healthcare system within its current policy of medical pluralism This study assessed the role of TM in providing palliative care and improving the quality of life while focusing on patients' knowledge and utilization. |
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| Methodology/Approach | A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study design using a multi-stage sampling technique was employed with a total sample of 440 patients. These patients were receiving TM treatment for health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension in the Kumasi metropolitan area in Ghana during 2024-2025 |
| Results | The findings revealed that a substantial proportion of patients (81.04%) demonstrated a strong knowledge of TM within the context of palliative care. Awareness of TM was universal among participants (100%), with herbal medicine being the most commonly recognized form (97.39%). Nearly all participants (99.53%) acknowledged the potential role of TM in palliative care and affirmed its accessibility (98.82%). |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Patients extensively used alternative medicine and showed strong contentment with its success, noting notable enhancements in their health. A lot of people suggest converting TM into modern dosage forms to improve health outcomes and quality of life. Stakeholders are calling for EQUITY IN ACTION to ensure that NDC government includes the Recommended Herbal Medicine LIST into National Health Insurance Scheme as envisaged by the past NPP government in 2022 Budget Statement. The big question is "Does this government have the political will"? |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Kofi Barimah Ghana Communication Technology University Kofi Barimah Ghana Communication Technology University Helena Oteng Nyamekye Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital Joseph Antwi Barimah Yamfo College of Health |
