Excerpts from a Speech of Video Message by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing at the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and Seminar

Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Prime Minister Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech of video message at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and Seminar, which was held at the Myanmar International Convention Centre-II (MICC-II) in Nay Pyi Taw on 22 November.

The excerpts from the speech of video message delivered by the SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing at the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and Seminar are as follows:

• The conferences and seminars have been held annually since 2000, and this year’s occasion is the 23rd time.
• This year’s conference will be held with the objectives of: Achieving quality recognition in traditional medicine education; advancing the development of traditional medicine and ensuring the production of traditional medicines in line with modern standards; turning out more highly qualified traditional medicine practitioners; and promoting respect and appreciation for Myanmar’s traditional medicine heritage and cultural legacy.
• The annual organization of conferences and seminars aims to enhance public health in line with Myanmar’s traditional practices of effectively caring for the health of the people through indigenous medicine and remedies. This initiative is intended to further strengthen healthcare for the population using the country’s traditional medical knowledge and medicines, continuing the long-standing tradition throughout Myanmar’s history.
• In this era, the nation’s focus is on promoting the healthcare sector to ensure the longevity and well-being of all citizens, aligning with the national objective of fostering a healthy and fit population.
• To modernize and elevate the standards of Myanmar traditional medicine, a prestigious Traditional Medicine University dedicated to traditional medicine has been established.
• I would like to urge traditional medicine practitioners and entrepreneurs to actively participate in the traditional medicine sector to help improve the life expectancy of the people and ensure that everyone has access to high-quality, comprehensive healthcare services.
• Therefore, Myanmar’s great traditional medicine practitioners must preserve and protect the cultural heritages of traditional medicines, while also sharing and further developing them for the benefit of future generations.
• It is understood that at this year’s seminar, thirteen papers will be presented. These papers include traditional medicines and therapies used by ethnic people, and everyone will work together to ensure that these traditional medicines and treatments become widely known and accessible to the public.
• Furthermore, to ensure that high-quality, safe, and beneficial traditional medicines are accessible to the public, more research on traditional medicine needs to be carried out and documented.
• Our country is actively collaborating with international organizations and various sectors, including the traditional medicine sector.
• To modernize and advance traditional medicine, we need to send scholars abroad to learn new technologies, share knowledge, and apply these insights in a way that aligns with the needs of our country for further development.
• I am pleased to see that on 25 June 2024, the University of Traditional Medicine (Mandalay) of the Department of Traditional Medicine and the Yunnan Traditional Medicine University of China, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a step forward in the development of traditional medicine.
• The government is providing strong support to integrate traditional medicine into the country’s healthcare system. With the government’s encouragement, traditional medicine practitioners have continuously cared for the health of the people.
• In addition, as part of the country’s economic objectives, which include enhancing and driving economic growth, efforts are being made to support and promote MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) in the manufacturing sector and the export industry. In this regard, there is ongoing support for the manufacturing of traditional medicine, to ensure their long-term sustainability.
• Efforts are being made not only to boost the domestic industry but also to elevate these businesses to the local, national, and international levels, aiming for greater production of high-quality traditional medicines. This will contribute significantly to the national economy.
• Traditional medicine practitioners, even in remote rural areas, not only provide herbal treatments but also promote the daily practices of traditional health systems to ensure people are knowledgeable about maintaining proper diet and health. This makes me feel grateful and pleased.

In conclusion, the purpose of organizing the annual conference and seminar for Myanmar’s traditional medicine practitioners is to ensure the long-term health and well-being of the people through traditional medicine. It is also aimed at fostering greater trust, respect, and reliance on traditional medicine among the people.

Source: MWD (23-11-2024)

• The annual organization of conferences and seminars aims to enhance public health in line with Myanmar’s traditional practices of effectively caring for the health of the people through indigenous medicine and remedies. This initiative is intended to further strengthen healthcare for the population using the country’s traditional medical knowledge and medicines, continuing the long-standing tradition throughout Myanmar’s history.
• To modernize and elevate the standards of Myanmar traditional medicine, a prestigious Traditional Medicine University dedicated to traditional medicine has been established.
• Myanmar’s great traditional medicine practitioners must preserve and protect the cultural heritages of traditional medicines, while also sharing and further developing them for the benefit of future generations.
• To modernize and advance traditional medicine, we need to send scholars abroad to learn new technologies, share knowledge, and apply these insights in a way that aligns with the needs of our country for further development.
• Efforts are being made not only to boost the domestic industry but also to elevate these businesses to the local, national, and international levels, aiming for greater production of high-quality traditional medicines. This will contribute significantly to the national economy.