The Medical and Dental Council of Ghana (MDC) has raised alarm over the growing threat of quackery in the country’s healthcare system, describing it as one of the biggest challenges undermining medical practice.
From 2024 to the third quarter of 2025, four people have been arrested for practicing medicine without a license, while several others remain under investigation, with prosecutions expected to follow. The Council has also uncovered cases of forged certificates submitted by individuals seeking clearance to work as medical professionals in Ghana.
Speaking at a press briefing, MDC Registrar, Dr. Divine Ndonbi Banyubala, said although the problem cuts across regions and professions, the Council is committed to confronting it decisively. He announced that the MDC, in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), plans to roll out a practitioner name tag and stamp policy by 2026. The initiative will enable patients to easily verify the identity and credentials of healthcare providers.
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“Detecting quackery is very difficult,” Dr. Banyubala noted. “That is why we are introducing measures to ensure that practitioners are properly tagged with their names, picture IDs, and designations. In healthcare facilities, not everyone who is referred to as ‘doctor’ is a medical doctor, and this often confuses patients and endangers their safety.”
The MDC maintains that these reforms will enhance patient confidence and strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system by reducing the risks posed by unqualified practitioners.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem