FDB Rejects Some Herbal Preparations

A number of herbal prepara-tions presented by some herbal practi-tioners to the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) for laboratory test and approval have been rejected by the board.

This is because the drugs failed to treat the diseases advertised by the manufacturers

Also some of the drugs failed to gain approval because of poor preparation, handling, packaging and sealing.

Mr. George E. Paintsil, the Western and Central Regional Zonal officer for FDB, made this known at a one-day educational workshop organised by the Board for about 60 herbal practitioners drawn from the Western and Central regions at Takoradi on Wednesday.

However, he failed to mention the names of the affected drugs.

The workshop aimed at upgrading the knowledge of the practitioners on the modern and hygienic method of producing quality, hygienic and standardised drugs.

Mr. Paintsil pointed out that the FDB was determined not to approve sub-standard and untested drugs that would affect the lives of Ghanaians.

"The life of every Ghanaian is very important to the nation and it is our duty to ensure that whatever every Ghanaian eats, drinks or swallows, would not cause any harm to his health," he stated.

Mr. Paintsil therefore asked practitioners not to regard the FDB as an institutions meant to put impediments on their way to destroy their businesses but endeavour to keep their environment and equipment clean to avoid contamination.

Mr. Vigil Prah Ashun, Regulating Officer of FDB, advised the practitioners to document the procedure used in preparing these drugs.

He further urged them to indicate the botanical names of herbs that they use.

Additionally, you must provide dates of manufacture, expiring dates, batch numbers, name of manufacturer, including address and telephone numbers.