Traditional Chinese Medicine is expected to take centre stage at the upcoming 2026 China–West Africa Medical & Health Industry Expo Featuring AI Diagnosis & Project Cooperation Summit as healthcare stakeholders continue exploring the growing role of integrative and alternative medicine in Africa’s healthcare development.
Organised by the Health Community of West Africa Association, the Expo, scheduled for August 19–21, 2026, in Accra, is expected to bring together traditional medicine practitioners, researchers, policymakers, healthcare investors and medical professionals from across Africa and China to deepen collaboration and explore traditional and modern healthcare systems.
A major driving force behind the growing prominence of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Expo has been the expanding collaboration between the Health Community of West Africa Association and the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC). Over the past year, both organisations have undertaken several initiatives aimed at strengthening traditional medicine regulation, research, standardisation and healthcare integration in Ghana and across West Africa.
One of the landmark collaborations between the two institutions was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on April 11, 2025, at TMPC’s Head Office in Accra to integrate Traditional Chinese Medicine into Ghana’s healthcare framework. The agreement, signed by Dr. Yakubu Tobor Yusuf, the Registrar of the council TMPC, and Madam Sihong Jiang, President of the Health Community of West Africa Association, marked a major step toward unifying Chinese and African traditional healing practices.
During the signing ceremony, Madam Jiang described the collaboration as an opportunity to celebrate the healing traditions of both continents while exploring innovative healthcare solutions capable of improving healthcare delivery across the region. The agreement also outlined plans for future research collaboration and the establishment of a traditional medicine research centre to support integration efforts between Traditional Chinese Medicine and African herbal medicine practices.
The partnership further expanded internationally in November 2025 when the Health Community of West Africa Association and TMPC signed another Memorandum of Understanding in Chengdu, China, to establish the West African Herbal Medicine Joint Standardization Laboratory. The initiative aims to address challenges such as inconsistent product quality, limited scientific validation and fragmented regulatory systems within the herbal medicine industry. The laboratory is expected to serve as a regional hub for herbal medicine research, testing and certification.
The collaboration between both organisations has also focused strongly on women’s health and healthcare advocacy. During the 3rd China–Ghana Traditional Medicine Forum held at the Confucius Institute of the University of Ghana, the Registrar of TMPC, Dr. Yakubu Tobor Yusuf, emphasised the need to combine ancient healing knowledge with modern innovation to improve women’s healthcare outcomes. He described the forum’s theme, “Empowering Women, Sharing Health,” as a call to action capable of strengthening generations through traditional medicine.
At the upcoming 2026 Expo, stakeholders are expected to explore how Traditional Chinese Medicine can complement modern healthcare systems in areas such as pain management, chronic disease treatment, rehabilitation and preventive healthcare. Exhibitors are anticipated to showcase herbal formulations, wellness therapies, acupuncture techniques and integrative healthcare technologies designed to support holistic patient care.
Beyond healthcare delivery, the Traditional Chinese Medicine segment of the Expo is also expected to create investment and trade opportunities within the herbal medicine and wellness industry. Industry players such as West African Traditional Medicine Cooperation and Exchange Centre (WATMCEC) and COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited (COA-RMCL) are likely to explore partnerships, product distribution channels and collaborative research initiatives aimed at expanding the traditional medicine market across West Africa.
As part of activities lined up for the Expo, there will be a dedicated Traditional Chinese Medicine Forum, which will bring together traditional medicine experts, researchers, regulators and healthcare practitioners from China and Africa to discuss the future of integrative healthcare, policy development, scientific research and international cooperation in traditional medicine. The forum is expected to serve as a major platform for strengthening dialogue and advancing collaboration between Chinese and African traditional healthcare systems while promoting innovation, standardisation and sustainable healthcare solutions across the region.
