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Published on August 30, 2007

 

 Deputy minister Dr Mora-kot Kornkasem said the plan would be implemented in all hospitals under the control of the ministry.

The ministry hopes the plan will reduce drug imports and save Bt120 billion per year.

Morakot was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 4th National Herb Congress at Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre, Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi.

He said Thailand had to be self sufficient and produce its own drugs as prices over the next 10 years would rise by up to Bt200 billion per year.

Herbal medicines have the potential to be used more widely in hospitals because they require lower investment to produce and are potentially safer than western drugs, said Morakot.

"We need to conduct more research into herbal medicines and prove they can be use to cure diseases like diabetes and cancer.

"If it can be done we could save a lot of money on importing drugs," he said.

Since 1999, 19 herbal medicines have been added to the national drug list but only a few of them are prescribed.

Suppaporn Pitiporn, head of the Pharmacy Department at Chaophya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, said most doctors are not familiar with traditional medicines and do

not prescribe them to patients.

They were not educated in the use of traditional medicine when they were students.

She said most Thai traditional medicines lack research to back up claims of their efficacy.

A source from a hospital in Ubon Ratchathani province said Thai traditional medicines made up only 5 per cent of drug prescriptions in hospitals because most doctors did not know how to prescribe them and did not believe herbal medicines could treat diseases as well as western drugs.

Most patients ask to be prescribed western drugs rather than Thai traditional drugs because they believe the efficacy of modern medicine is better than traditional medicine. Herbs can only relieve symptoms like fever and stomach ache.

They cannot treat serious and complicated diseases such as diabetes or coro-

nary heart disease, said the source.

"The other problem is that we do not even have enough herbal medicine to prescribe to patients," he added.

Thai traditional medicines prescribed in hospitals were mostly ordered from the Chaophya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, which is a main manufacturer of herbal remedies.

Others were ordered from local manufacturers in the provinces.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation

Herbal medicines list

1.ÂÒá¡éä¢é 5 ÃÒ¡  Ya Kae Kai Har Rak ( Five roots for fever )

2.ÂÒà¢ÕÂÇËÍÁ Ya Kaew Horm

3.ÂÒàËÅ×ͧ»Ô´ÊÁØ·Ã Ya Learng Pid Samud

4.ÂҨѹ·ÅÕÅÒ  ya Chantaleela

5.ÂÒ¶èÒ´Õà¡Å×ͽÃÑ觠 Ya Dee Kreau Farang

6.ÂҸҵغÃèº Ya Tard Bunchob

7.ÂÒ»ÃÐÊСҹ¾ÅÙ Ya Prasa Karn Plu

8.ÂÒ»ÃÐÊÐä¾Å  Ya Prasa Ploai

9.ÂÒ»ÃÐÊÐÁÐáÇé§ Ya Prasa Mawaeng

10.ÂÒËÍÁà·¾¨Ôµ  Ya Horm Teappachit

11.ÂÒËÍÁ¹Òâ¡·  Ya Horm Nawa Kod

12.¢ÁÔ鹪ѹ Tumeric

13.¢Ô§ Ginger

14.ªØÁàËç´à·È  Candlelabra brush

15.ºÑǺ¡ Kotu Kola ( Pennyworth )

16.¾­ÒÂÍ Payayor

17.¾ÃÔ¡ Chilli

18.ä¾Å  Plai

19.¿éÒ·ÐÅÒÂâ¨Ã  Fa Ta Lai Jone