Koforidua Regional Hospital would start the prescription of herbal medicine to patients who prefer herbal treatment to orthodox medicine with effect from June 04.

Patients who prefer herbal treatment would pass through the normal procedure of the hospital and after their vital information is taken, would be directed to the herbal centre to continue with the consultation.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Koforidua on Tuesday, Mr Philip Lartey, of the Herbal Clinic of the hospital, said as at now, the National Health Insurance (NHIS) did not cover herbal drugs.

He said patients who were registered with the NHIS would have to pay for the herbal drugs while the scheme covers only the consultation and laboratory investigations.

Mr. Lartey appealed to patients to access herbal medicine at the hospitals because the prescriptions are based on well researched investigations.

The Medical Director of the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Dr Daniel Asare, said the drugs which would be used at the herbal centre of the hospital had been tried and tested by the Foods and Drugs Board and Mampong-Akuapem Centre for Research into Plant Medicine.**