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Background Traditional medicine (TM) plays a vital role in the Ghanaian health system by serving as an alternative healthcare delivery system for the majority of people. However, the quality of practice and level of TM practitioners' involvement in the integration of TM into the health system have not been fully investigated. Methods This study employed a phenomenological qualitative study design to explore the perceptions, experiences and recommendations of TM practitioners in the Ashanti region regarding TM integration. Data were collected through individual interviews with 17 participants. Results Participants had knowledge about TM integration. They cited effective alternative healthcare delivery and improved patient outcomes as the key benefits of TM integration. However, they reported a shortage of approved TM products, poor visibility of TM integration and poor relational coordination of care as factors hampering the integration. Participants recommended improved interprofessional relationships, provision of financial support and improved publicity of TM as possible strategies to enhance TM integration in Ghana. Conclusions The findings of the study clearly demonstrate that the Ghanaian health system is currently operating a consumer-led, tolerant health system with a parallel (between orthodox and TM practitioners) healthcare delivery model. Successful implementation of an effective TM integration would require improved integrative collaborative coordination of care between orthodox and TM practitioners in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study highlights the transitions that indigenous medicine and indigenous medical practices have undergone in Asante. It uses a qualitative approach anchored on both primary and secondary sources. The primary data sources include interviews and documentary data derived from reports in historical archives. Anchored on rational choice contingent upon social change, it reviewed existing literature. It filters the transitions that herbal medicine in particular has undergone from the earliest times to the twenty-first century. The responses from interviewees and experts were corroborated with secondary sources. It highlighted the fact that indigenous medicine and herbal medicine in particular have seen changes over time and have been perceived differently at different times. It concludes that based on the evolving government policies on herbal medicine; it is anticipated that it will have a glowing future in Ghana and its full-fledged integration with the orthodox system in a modern healthcare setting is attainable. To achieve this end, the rational choice of practitioners in the herbal medicine milieu should be to build a formidable interest group that can influence government policy in their favour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]