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Ghana Alternative Medicine Journal | Volume-1 | Issue-01
The Ordeal of the Naturopathic Doctor and the Challenges in Naturopathic Medical Practice: The Case of Ghana
Raphael Nyarkotey Obu
Published: Dec. 5, 2020 | 295 301
DOI: 10.36347/gamj.2020.v01i01.004
Pages: Page Number: 54-56
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Abstract
Naturopathy Medicine is a new system of Medical practice gaining popularity in Ghana. Naturopathy uses science to bridge the gap between Conventional Medicine and Traditional Medicine through the Four Learning Areas of Science, which includes all the Basic and Medical Sciences like Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology as well as Pharmacology, Pathology, Medicine, Pharmacognosy, etc. This notwithstanding, the practice of Naturopathic Medicine has many challenges in Ghana as a new emerging medical practice. This paper investigates the challenges in the practice of Naturopathy and other alternative medicines in Ghana. Twenty (20) Naturopathic Medical Students were asked to write three challenges they faced in their Naturopathy and other alternative medicines during a class lecture on Naturopathy. In their result, the predominant issues raised by the students were regulatory issues in Ghana and limited Universities or training institutions to teach Naturopathic students. Other pressing challenges were insufficient government support to push alternative remedies, efficacy of natural products coupled with manufacturing compliance, cost of usage of natural products by patients, unhealthy challenges with medical fraternity and uniformity in Naturopathic association. In conclusion, practitioners of naturopathic medicines faced many challenges in Ghana and there is the need for the regulatory body, The Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the Ministry of Health to help raised the standards in the practice of Naturopathy Medicine. This can be achieved with government support to have the new Traditional and Alternative Medicine bill pending passed.