Thailand Aims to Reduce Dependency on Imported Drugs
Parichart Klaewplodtook, a Sales Specialist at the Government Pharmaceutical Institute, emphasizes that Thailand heavily relies on imported drugs. Reducing the cost of imported drugs has become a crucial concern for pharmaceutical organizations, as both the people and the government bear the financial burden.
As part of a comprehensive strategy, the Thai government has incorporated Thai herbs into its master plan. The Government Pharmaceutical Institute plays a key role in producing pure herbal extracts of high quality for the manufacturing of herbal medicines. These medicines are then distributed to hospitals throughout the country.
Previously, Thailand primarily focused on drug production for treatment, neglecting other aspects of healthcare. However, in alignment with the Ministry of Public Health’s policy, the new dimension of health care encompasses prevention, promotion, treatment, and rehabilitation. As a result, the Government Pharmaceutical Institute aims to produce medicines and health products that prioritize prevention and health promotion, significantly reducing costs and improving drug safety.
The Government Pharmaceutical Institute currently operates a factory on Rama 6 Road as its primary facility, with a second factory in Rangsit Klong 10. By 2024, they plan to relocate the Rama 6 production line to Phase 2 in Rangsit, effectively doubling their production capacity. This expansion will allow for the production of various forms of medication, including pills, creams, liquids, and injections.
In addition to these advancements, the Government Pharmaceutical Institute also operates a vaccine factory in Saraburi. This facility has been instrumental in producing COVID vaccines and flu vaccines, while future plans involve closely monitoring drug stability and the direction of vaccine trends to ensure drug safety in Thailand.
Mrs. Sirinan Tubtimtes, Director of the Expertise Center on Herbal Product Innovation at the Thailand Scientific and Technological Research Institute (TISTR), advocates for herbal remedies as an alternative option for the Thai population. These remedies have long been used, drawing upon ancient medicinal formulas that have proven successful over time. In light of recent events, such as the COVID pandemic, herbal medicines have demonstrated their potential in combating new diseases for which traditional drugs may not yet exist.
Hence, the abundance of medicinal herbs and recipes within Thailand allows for herbal medicines to serve as a viable treatment option. The affordability and accessibility of these alternative medicines have made them popular among Thai citizens, providing cost-effective healthcare solutions.
Source: No Sethakit Newspaper, Year 43, Number 3,901, Page 15, Dated 2-5 July 2023
Parichart Klaewplodtook, 10 Sales Specialist, Government Pharmaceutical Institute, said that Thailand today still relies heavily on imported drugs. Therefore, the big question of those involved including a pharmaceutical organization Is to reduce the cost of the value of drugs in the country that the people and the government will have to pay for importing.
Currently, one of the government’s policies is to include Thai herbs in the master plan. The Government Pharmaceutical Institute has taken care of high quality pure herbal extracts for use in the production of herbal medicines and distributes these medicines to various hospitals across the country.
However, on the issue of drug safety, it must be admitted that in the past Thailand has mainly focused on the dimension of drug production for treatment. But the new dimension of health care according to the policy of the Ministry of Public Health includes 4 dimensions: prevention, promotion, treatment and rehabilitation. Therefore, what the GPO produces after this may not be a drug intended for treatment. Rather, it promotes the production of medicines or health products that focus on prevention and health promotion. This will make the loss value in the system less. Drug safety will be greater.
“As for the Government Pharmaceutical Institute, we now have a factory on Rama 6 Road as the first factory and a second factory in Rangsit Klong 10. In the future, by 2024, we will move the Rama 6 production line to Phase 2 Rangsit This will increase the production capacity of the GPO 1-fold from the present. At that time, it will give us the potential to expand production even more, be it pills, creams, liquids or injections.
We also have a vaccine factory in Saraburi. In the past, it has been producing COVID vaccines and flu vaccines. And in the future, we need to monitor the stability of drugs and the trend of vaccine trends in which direction we can help support to increase strength. to create drug safety in Thailand to happen.”
While Mrs. Sirinan Tubtimtes, Director of the Expertise Center on Herbal Product Innovation Thailand Scientific and Technological Research Institute (TISTR.) expressed his opinion that herbs are an alternative for Thai people. which is according to the ancient medicinal formula used successively You can see that there are many medicinal recipes that use herbs as ingredients. In the past COVID situation, it can be seen that there are herbal medicines that are protagonists to help during the emergence of new diseases. who still don’t know what drug will be needed to treat it
Therefore, herbs are a treatment option. And Thailand itself has many medicinal herbs and recipes that can be used. In the past, herbal medicines have been used as alternative medicines and in place of current medicines. It makes it easier for Thai people to get access to medicines at a very affordable price.
Page 15, No Sethakit Newspaper, Year 43, Number 3,901, Date 2 – 5 July 2023
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