Advertisement of herbal drugs for ‘incurable’ diseases worrying – FDA

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has expressed worry about the manner in which herbal medicine practitioners advertise cure for all kinds of incurable diseases in the media.

Upper East Regional Director of the FDA, Mr. Zakaria Braimah, disclosed this in an interview with Citi News in Bolgatanga.

“We are worried about the manner that some herbal practitioners go on the airwaves to advertise their products which is not allowed because they are not to even advertise for having the cure for certain diseases like HIV/AIDS, Epilepsy and all forms of heart diseases because these medical conditions have no cure, they can only be managed. But sometimes we do hear these herbal practitioners on radio saying all manner of things which is a great concern to us (FDA).”

“Any advert, announcement or jingle of herbal products is supposed to have approval from the FDA before that person or herbal center can take to the media,” he added.

He said though the FDA has been lenient on some media houses who violate procedures for herbal medicine advertisement on radio, adding they could be punished under the law for advertising unregistered products.

“Any Radio station allowing for the advertisement of unregistered herbal products is punishable by law because the rules are there and the punishment is heavy just that we have not enforced the law strictly….We are not compromising the system but we think that we need to continue the sensitization of media houses on the rules for advertising herbal products and subsequently prosecute those who break the law,” Mr. Braimah stated.

Mr. Braimah urged media houses to insist that herbal products brought for advertisement are registered by the FDA.

He added that some expired assorted drinks, biscuits and canned products have been seized during their post market surveillance and will be destroyed in due course.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has expressed worry about the manner in which herbal medicine practitioners advertise cure for all kinds of incurable diseases in the media. Upper East Regional Director of the FDA, Mr. Zakaria Braimah, disclosed this in an interview with Citi News in Bolgatanga. “We are worried about the manner that ... Read Full Story