Perceptions of the role of the traditional medical system in national development : the case of Ghana

Abstract

The role of the traditional medical system in national development is assessed by means of questionnaires and structured interviews. The answers of 169 respondents involved have been summarized into tables and graphs. Respondents were asked to provide various types of information about their interaction with the traditional practitioners.

The findings show that many Ghanaians consider traditional medicine as a valuable component of the health care delivery system, complementing the modern scientific medicine. Although many of the respondents use the two medical systems concurrently when ill, and in some cases prefer traditional medicine to modern medicine, they all attempted in different ways distance themselves from traditional medicine. A historical perspective is given on the medical systems in Ghana, which shows that traditional medicine had not only been outlawed, but has also gone through a lot of stigmatization.

This study indicates ways in which greater cooperation can be achieved between the traditional and modern systems, assuming of course that there is the political will on the part of the policy makers to effect such change. It has assigned to the Ministry of Health (MoH) a vital role in bringing about the needed cooperation between the two systems. The MoH is expected to make not only those legislative changes considered necessary for the attainment of this objective, but also changes in the people's attitude toward and perception of the traditional Medical system through public education. Would a two-tiered medical school system foster mutual respect among all health practitioners? Policy issues are touched upon.