Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attends opening ceremony of BPI Pharmaceutical Museum and Freeze Dryer Machine
NAY PYI TAW August 14
A ceremony was held to commission BPI Pharmaceutical Museum and Freeze Dryer Machine of Myanmar Pharmaceutical Industry, Ministry of Industry, was held at Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) of MPI, this morning attended by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present were SAC Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, union ministers, the Yangon Region chief minister, the chief of General Staff (Army, Navy and Air), senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Yangon Command commander, officials, staff of the pharmaceutical factory and in-service and retired pharmaceutical scientists.
First, the Senior General unveiled the commemorative stone pillar of BPI Pharmaceutical Museum and sprinkled scented water on it. He then observed the commemorative stone pillar of BPI erected by former Prime Minister U Nu on 23 April 1954.
Then, the union minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, the union minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, the union minister for Industry, the chief minister and the commander formally opened the museum.
The Senior General and party looked around Feature Wall, Museum Directory Map, documentary photos and paintings.
At the briefing hall of the museum, the Senior General and party heard a report by Union minister for Industry Dr Charlie Than on progress in implementing the guidance given by the Senior General during the inspection of the Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein), progress in repairing pharmaceutical production facilities, increase in anti-venom production, use of quality materials in producing drugs, extension of local pharmaceutical production to reduce imports, programs to distribute medicines at reasonable prices, introduction of new medicines, systematic anti-pollution programs, production of COVID-19 vaccines, objectives and benefits of BPI Pharmaceutical Museum, and Managing Director of MPI Dr Aung Khaing on construction of the museum, installation of Freeze Dryer Machine, and manufacturing and distribution of medicines In response to the reports, the Senior General said today is a historic day for the Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) of Myanmar Pharmaceutical Industrial Enterprise. Keeping a record is important for whatever is done. Keeping records will contribute much towards one’s own business as well as the State. Through records, the history can be revealed and it will also contribute to a correct decision for the future. It is an honour for the pharmaceutical factory with its fine historical traditions to maintain such traditions by opening a museum.
It is necessary to do better jobs by revealing its fine historic traditions. Some machine parts are outdated with the passage of time. However, some of them are still serviceable. With the help of local experienced technicians they can still be effectively used. The medicines produced from the Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) are potent and in good quality. So, more efforts are necessary for better quality.
When it comes to medical treatment, measures are taken for annual research programmes and conferences. Depending on various ways of treatment, the quality of medications has changed. Better quality medicines will ensure greater potence. The health sector has three parts—education, prevention and treatment.
Myanmar Pharmaceutical Industrial Enterprise is responsible for prevention and treatment.
The country’s life expectancy is lower than that of other countries. This is why education, prevention and treatment are necessary in public health. As such, measures must be taken for the use of potent medicines.
In this regard, more research is required. Due to the domestic insufficiency, medicines have to be imported yearly. The domestic industries are trying to produce enough medicines by importing raw materials.
Common medicines should be enough for the country. Tatmadaw pharmaceutical factories are also manufacturing medicines yearly. Myanmar Pharmaceutical Industrial Enterprise needs to render assistance for the private sector to produce more medicines. Doing business they need to serve the national interest.
The State-owned industries are running for the public welfare.
They need to make sure that the people buy their products at fair or cheap prices.
In addition to better quality products, good packaging is also necessary. If two different commodities are the same in quality, one should be more affordable. If they have the same price, one should be in better quality. Medications are invaluable for human lives. As the Pharmaceutical Factory produces medicines necessary for the public, it benefits the State a lot. Therefore, the pharmacists and both the inservice and retired staff members deserve recognition and praises, the Senior General said.
Next, the Senior General and party interestingly went round in the pharmaceutical museum. In response to the reports, the Senior General made a discussion.
Then, the Senior General signed in the visitors’ book.
The union minister for industry presented a commemorative gift to the Senior General.
Then, the Senior General, the attendees and officials had a documentary photo taken together.
Next, the Senior General and party arrived at the antisnake venom manufacturing department where the head of the department and officials briefed them on production of anti-snake venom. Officials also briefed the Senior General and party on the new freeze dryer machine and its functions, process of developing the anti-snake venom and use of it.
The Senior General discussed the production process with the officials.
Afterwards, the Senior General formally opened the new freeze dryer machine.
Then, the Senior General and party had lunch with personnel of Myanmar Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) and the retired pharmacologists and those in service.
After lunch, the Senior General said Myanmar Pharmaceutical Enterprise, formerly known as BPI, have been producing quality medicines since years ago and its reputation for that has been so far. As a variety of medicines including anti-snake venom manufactured by Myanmar Pharmaceutical Enterprise has quality to protect people from diseases and give them treatment, which means a good, decent business for the people. The enterprise has kept having the quality thanks to the former pharmacologists, who relayed and shared their knowledge and skillfulness, and efforts of the new blood of personnel.
I very much appreciate and recognize it. I want all of them to serve more for the interests of the nation and people in the future.
Then, the Senior General and party cordially greeted personnel of the Myanmar Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) and retired pharmacologists and those still in service.
The monument of BPI was erected by the former Prime Minister U Nu on April 23, 1954. The then president U Win Maung formally opened it in the name of Burma Pharmaceutical Industry-BPI. BPI started manufacturing 41 categories of medicine and six kinds of vaccine. It has manufactured quality medicines and sold them at reasonable prices in successive eras leading the sector of pharmaceutical industry for the public healthcare.
Based on human resources of BPI, Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein), Research Department, Pharmaceutical Factory (Ywathargyi), Pharmaceutical Factory (Inyaung), Anti-Snake Venom Production Division (Hmawby), Horse Farm (Myitchay), Pharmaceutical Factory (PyinOoLwin), Tatmadaw Pharmaceutical Factory (Hmawby), Horse Farm (Yanpei), Horse Farm (Heho), Pharmaceutical Factory (Sagaing) and University of Pharmacy (Yangon/Mandalay) were extended. Under the guidance by the Chairman of State Administration Council, the exhibit of BPI’s history on production of medicines was opened with the aims of maintaining its over 60 years old experience on production of medicines in successive eras as a state-owned factory, machines, production techniques, medical texts for reference, development process of human resources and historical events and enabling the future generation to learn of them.