A Ceremony to open the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and Myanmar Traditional Medicine Seminar took place at the Myanmar International Convention Centre-II (MICC-II) in Nay Pyi Taw on 22 November.
First, Chairman of the Leading Committee for Organizing the Conference and Seminar Union Minister for Health Dr. Thet Khaing Win, Chairman of Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association U Thein Win and concerned officials formally cut the ribbon to launch the conference and seminar.
Next, Patron of the Leading Committee for Organizing the Conference and Seminar Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win pressed the button to kick off the conference and seminar. At the ceremony, a video message sent by the SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to the conference and seminar was played. Following this, the SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister delivered a speech as follows:
- Global countries are sustaining the traditional medicines and traditionally medicinal therapies. Before emergence of the western medical education, modern drugs and medical technologies, traditional medicines and therapies were used in treating the patients.
- In Myanmar, starting from the reign of the ancient Myanmar kings, natural resources have been utilized for medicinal purposes to treat ailments. Traditional Myanmar medicine has long played a significant role in providing healthcare services to the people for over a thousand years.
- As the Traditional Medicine Department was formed on 3 August 1989, it manages development of traditional medicine education.
- The University of Myanmar Traditional Medicine was opened in Mandalay in 2001 and then, bachelor and master degrees in Myanmar traditional medicine have been offered to new generations.
- Myanmar traditional medicine seminars were occasionally held and conferences of Myanmar traditional medicine physicians have been held annually since the year of 2000. It is the 23rd conference of Myanmar traditional medicine.
- The government is continuously working to improve the health sector to ensure long-term health for the entire nation, with ongoing efforts to enhance the health standards of the national people.
- It is to see that traditional medicine physicians are exerting efforts while the government has been promoting the role of traditional medicine seriously.
- In doing so, it needs to act systematically and in accordance with the code of conduct, following the Traditional Medicine Council Law and the Traditional Medicine Law to maintain discipline and organization.
- The Traditional Medicine University is currently turning out practitioners, offering courses from diploma level to master’s degree in traditional medicine. With the support and encouragement of the government, it will be possible to offer doctoral degrees in traditional medicine starting in the academic year 2025.
- Holding the traditional medicine conference is the benefits of preserving Myanmar traditional medicine, a national cultural heritage, creating opportunity for veteran physicians to discuss experiences and knowledge about three kinds of knowledge such as diseases, treatments and medicines with new generations, leaving legacy of traditional medicines.
- To modernize and develop Myanmar’s traditional medicine, it is necessary to further integrate and collaborate with the traditional medicine sectors of other countries.
- Efforts must be made for development of Myanmar traditional medicine and production of potent Myanmar traditional medicines that can penetrate into international markets by cooperating the traditional medicine sector with international organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, and Mekong.
- Moreover, participants are urged to discuss ways and means for further development of Myanmar traditional medicine as a national heritage at the conference by collecting the essence of Myanmar traditional medicine such as treatments, invaluable medical treatises and potent medicines.
- During the time when the COVID-19 pandemic, the SAC is proud to learn that research was successfully conducted on the effectiveness of traditional medicine, particularly the indigenous herbal medicine (Visama fever medicine), for prevention and treatment, and such a drug is distributed at traditional medicine hospitals free of charge.
- Aiming to promote the further development of Myanmar’s traditional medicine, ensure the quality and safety of traditional medicines, and cultivate more skilled traditional medicine practitioners, the Department of Traditional Medicine under the Ministry of Health has accelerated efforts to advance traditional medicine practices with the support of the State. Currently, it can be seen proudly that 3 Traditional Medicine Hospitals (100-bed), 9 hospitals (50-bed), 13 hospitals (25-bed), and 24 hospitals (16-bed). Additionally, there are 50 district traditional medicine clinics and 210 township clinics, contributing significantly to the health and well-being of the public through the effective use of Myanmar’s traditional medicines.
- Efforts have been encouraged for traditional medicine practitioners and manufacturers to continually engage in collaboration, exchange, and mutual trade of traditional medicines.
- Practitioners are urged to preserve the legacy of crafting effective medicines from the natural resources such as forests, mountains, water, and land available within Myanmar, ensuring the wellbeing of the public through self-manufactured traditional medicines.
After that, Patron of the Leading Committee for Organizing the Conference and Seminar the Vice-Senior General presented the first work performance award to Bago Traditional Medicine Hospital (50-bed), the second to Taunggyi Traditional Medicine Hospital (50-bed) and the third to Hpa-an Traditional Medicine Hospital (50-bed).
Then, the SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister together with party visited the exhibition of traditional medicines and the booth of the Traditional Medicine Department. In the evening, the Vice-Senior General joined the dinner in honour of the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and Seminar.
Present at the ceremony along with Patron of the Leading Committee for Organizing the Conference and Seminar SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win were council members, union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Council members, ambassadors and charges d’affaires of foreign embassies to Myanmar, the President of Myanmar Medical Council, members of the advisory board of traditional medicine, resident representatives of UN agencies, NGOs, Traditional Medicine Council members, representatives from Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association and traditional medicines across the nation, Myanmar traditional medicine entrepreneurs, medicine entrepreneurs, faculty members and students of Traditional Medicine Hospitals and the Traditional Medicine University.
Source: MWD (23-11-2024)
- In Myanmar, starting from the reign of the ancient Myanmar kings, natural resources have been utilized for medicinal purposes to treat ailments. Traditional Myanmar medicine has long played a significant role in providing healthcare services to the people for over a thousand years.
- The government is continuously working to improve the health sector to ensure long-term health for the entire nation, with ongoing efforts to enhance the health standards of the national people.
- The Traditional Medicine University is currently turning out practitioners, offering courses from diploma level to master’s degree in traditional medicine. With the support and encouragement of the government, it will be possible to offer doctoral degrees in traditional medicine starting in the academic year 2025.
- Efforts must be made for development of Myanmar traditional medicine and production of potent Myanmar traditional medicines that can penetrate into international markets by cooperating the traditional medicine sector with international organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, and Mekong.
- The Department of Traditional Medicine under the Ministry of Health has accelerated efforts to advance traditional medicine practices with the support of the State. Currently, it can be seen proudly that 3 Traditional Medicine Hospitals (100-bed), 9 hospitals (50-bed), 13 hospitals (25-bed), and 24 hospitals (16-bed). Additionally, there are 50 district traditional medicine clinics and 210 township clinics, contributing significantly to the health and well-being of the public through the effective use of Myanmar’s traditional medicines.
- Practitioners are urged to preserve the legacy of crafting effective medicines from the natural resources such as forests, mountains, water, and land available within Myanmar, ensuring the wellbeing of the public through self-manufactured traditional medicines.