Assesssing herbal medical practitioners in professional qualifying examination in Ghana, a model.

About 70% of Ghanaians depend on Alternative health practice for their primary health care needs. Hence, there is the need to streamline and regulate these practices. Graduates from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (K.N.U.S.T), Kumasi-Ghana were assessed by the Professional Qualifying Examination Board of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), Ghana, after two years of internship training. A model of assessment took into consideration, the scope of the university training, internship and the primary health care needs of the society.

Effectiveness and safety assessment of Mist Tonica, a herbal haematinic.

Anaemia is a widespread public health problem, and in Ghana it is the fourth leading cause of hospital admissions and the second factor contributing to death. Mist Tonica, an herbal haematinic produced by the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM), Ghana, was assessed for its effectiveness and safety in humans after Ethics Committee approval. Clinically established anaemic-patients aged, 13 years and above, with haemoglobin levels less than 11.5 g/dl and 13.5 g/dl for females and males respectively were treated with Mist Tonica, 8.96 g/40 mls three times daily for two weeks. The mean haemoglobin rise per week caused by Mist Tonica was 1.92 (0.76) g/dl, range (1.66-2.55) g/dl/week and over 88% of the patients on Mist Tonica had their appetite for food improved. Haematological profile, liver and kidney functions were not adversely affected by Mist Tonica. Results of the study suggest that Mist Tonica is an effective and safe herbal haematinic.