Herbalist, identified as Dr. Adu Frederick has issued a strong public warning over what he describes as a growing and dangerous practice within parts of Ghana’s herbal medicine sector, alleging that some practitioners are mixing orthodox pharmaceutical drugs with herbal products.
According to Dr. Frederick, if urgent intervention is not taken, Ghana could face a serious public health crisis within the next five to ten years, with a potential rise in critical illnesses, hospital admissions and loss of lives.
“If Care is not taken, five to ten years later the number of people who will lose their lives, get critically ill and mass up in hospitals in Ghana will be unbearable,” he stated.
He expressed concern that the number of pharmacies, herbal practitioners and even some medical professionals who allegedly purchase conventional medicines and blend them with herbal preparations is “not a joke.”
He further criticized certain individuals who label themselves as herbal practitioners, accusing them of endangering human lives by adding chemical components from orthodox drugs into herbal mixtures, which he claims may cause long-term harm to consumers.
“You call yourself herbal practitioners but you are killers, adding chemical components that are orthodox to the herbal medicines you’re producing, causing damage to human beings,” he added.
Dr. Frederick also alleged that complaints made to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) about the issue often do not receive adequate response, though no specific cases were cited.
He is therefore calling on the regulatory body to intensify monitoring, investigations and enforcement actions to ensure public safety.
The FDA has not yet publicly responded to the claims. Public health experts have consistently advised consumers to purchase only approved medicines and to verify product registration details before use.