Key stakeholders in Ghana’s health sector met in Accra on May 22, 2025,  for a dialogue aimed at improving regulation and raising standards to meet global demands.

Organized by the Health CEOs and Scientists Network, the event brought together officials from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HEFRA), and the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC).

Held under the theme “Raising Standards in Meeting Global Demands”, the forum served as a platform for open dialogue between regulators and health sector practitioners. The goal, according to organizers, was to promote best practices and address ongoing regulatory challenges in the country.

Speaking at the event, Samuel Asante Boateng, Director for Drugs and Herbal Medicine Registration at the FDA, emphasised the importance of safety in product registration.

“We have to make sure that the safety of products is ensured before we register, otherwise FDA will be blamed,” he said.

“We at the FDA have raised our standards, so we also call on the stakeholders to meet such standards, which align with international ones,” he added.

Kwame Dzikunu, President of the Health CEOs and Scientists Network, highlighted the forum's purpose as a bridge between regulators and practitioners.

“We organized this forum to understand stakeholders' activities and let them know the challenges we are facing, so we can enhance health practice in the country,” he said.

He also announced the launch of the 14th Health CEOs and Legends Awards, scheduled to take place on August 28, 2025.

Dr Agyemang Badu, Director of Compliance and Enforcement at HEFRA, disclosed plans to broaden the agency’s regulatory scope to include emerging healthcare facilities.

“If you look at the Act that establishes HEFRA, it lists all the facilities that we can license,” he noted.

“But we realized that some upcoming facilities like telemedicine centers, home help services, and medical spas must also be regulated. These are offering health services, so we cannot leave them unregulated.”

He added that HEFRA will intensify actions against facilities operating without valid licenses.

Meanwhile, Dr Yakubu Yusuf Torbor, Acting Registrar of TMPC, revealed efforts to expand the council's physical presence and clear a backlog of license applications.

“We are embarking on aggressive regional expansion to ensure access for practitioners across the country,” he said.

“TMPC will be present in districts so people can register with ease.”

He added that TMPC would partner with state agencies and security services to clamp down on unlicensed traditional medicine practitioners.