Abstract
Objective: To determine the perceived adequacy of the Code of Ethics of the Traditional Medicine Practice as contained in Act 575 of 2000, with respect to patient and manufacturer protection. Method: The author reviewed the legal framework for the regulation of Traditional medicine in Ghana. Investigation was conducted on the worldwide web to identify literature that addressed the research question and reviewed for best practice. Result: The Code of Ethics of the Traditional Medicine Council of Ghana is inadequate for client and manufacturer protections. It is a professional code of ethics, which is skewed to industry players. This vacuum provides opportunity for mistakes, patient endangerment and even fatality. Discussion: There is an established national legal framework for the regulation of the industry with the secondary function of the taxonomy under the framework towards enhanced taxcollection by government. Patient protection code of ethics needs to be developed. Conclusion: The Council needs to develop the ethical framework that would protect both the ultimate beneficiaries of their products and services as well as the workers and operators in the industry.
Highlights
This review is necessitated by the fact that there appears to be a code of ethics for the practice of traditional medicine in Ghana, what exists is a list of do’s and don’ts for the manufacturers and practitioners of the products used and services rendered in TM
The legislations implicated in this exercise are: the Traditional Medicine Practice Act of 2000 (Act 575), the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for Traditional and Alternative Medicine Practitioners in Ghana, and the Ghana Health Service’s Patient Charter contained in the Public Health Act of 2012 (Act 851)
This evaluation would be done in relation to the research questions, which are namely: What protections are offered by these legislations forming the legal framework for the patient or ultimate user of the products of Traditional Medicine, (TM)? How are the manufacturers of TM products protected as a matter of public policy?
Summary
This review is necessitated by the fact that there appears to be a code of ethics for the practice of traditional medicine in Ghana, what exists is a list of do’s and don’ts for the manufacturers and practitioners of the products used and services rendered in TM. The legislations implicated in this exercise are: the Traditional Medicine Practice Act of 2000 (Act 575), the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for Traditional and Alternative Medicine Practitioners in Ghana, and the Ghana Health Service’s Patient Charter contained in the Public Health Act of 2012 (Act 851). This evaluation would be done in relation to the research questions, which are namely: What protections are offered by these legislations forming the legal framework for the patient or ultimate user of the products of Traditional Medicine, (TM)? This evaluation would be done in relation to the research questions, which are namely: What protections are offered by these legislations forming the legal framework for the patient or ultimate user of the products of Traditional Medicine, (TM)? How are the manufacturers of TM products protected as a matter of public policy?
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