22nd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference and Myanmar Traditional Medicine Seminar held
Nay Pyi Taw December 21
The opening ceremony of 22nd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference and Myanmar Traditional Medicine Seminar took place at Myanmar International Convention Centre-II in Nay Pyi Taw this morning.
It was attended by Patron of the Leading Committee for Organizing the conference and seminar Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister ViceSenior General Soe Win, SAC members, Union ministers, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, deputy ministers, senior military officers, departmental heads, ambassadors of foreign missions to Myanmar, the chairman of Myanmar Medical Council, traditional medicine advisory board members, resident representatives of UN agencies, NGOs, members of Myanmar Traditional Medicine Council, representatives from Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association and from the countryside, advisers to the traditional medicine subject, Myanmar traditional medicine producers and medication entrepreneurs, traditional medicine practitioners from the traditional medicine hospitals, faculty members from the Myanmar Traditional Medicine and student.
The Vice-Senior General, Chairman of Myanmar Traditional Medicine Council U Myint Oo and Adviser member to the traditional medicine subject U Myint Lwin formally cut the ribbon to open the conference and seminar.
At the ceremony, SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing sent a video message of honour to the conference and seminar. (The full text of the message is reported on page 18)
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-Senior General said that the Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference has been held annually since 2000, and this year’s occasion is 22nd time. During the period, Myanmar traditional medicine practitioners, officials from the Ministry of Health and related scholars have chances to meet with one another once a year at the conference in order to talk about health care services for the people with traditional medicine and exchange of experiences.
This conference aims to further develop traditional medicine education, cooperate with local and foreign related experts and organizations, come out safe and high potent traditional medicines, conduct training for emergence of qualified traditional medicine practitioners and effectively provide health care services to the people. The Vice-Senior General expressed his firm belief that this conference would discuss the plans for successful implementation of these visions.
The conference and seminar will create chances for exchange of experiences and knowledge for development of traditional medicine arena and developing process in line with the current era. Moreover, experienced traditional medicine practitioners will have the chance to hand over legacy to new generations at the conference and seminar and new generations will have the chance to seek the excellent knowledge and experienced from the veteran practitioners.
In successive conference, they held discussions and proposals in conformity with the relevant eras. So, the Vice-Senior General urged all to make all-out efforts for successfully implementing the deserved and appropriate process and plans to be came out from discussions.
It was learnt that four motions will be submitted and discussed with all seriousness at the 22nd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners' Conference. As the government has been promoting the role of traditional medicines, it gives me great pleasure to see that traditional medicine practitioners are exerting efforts at the conference. In doing so systematically, the Myanmar Traditional Medical Council Law and the Traditional Drug Law are main pillars. Nowadays, Myanmar traditional medicine practitioners have been nurtured at the diploma, graduate and master levels. Efforts must be made for development of traditional medicines at home while it is necessary to cooperate with traditional medicine sectors of global countries.
As traditional medicines of each country and race are fundamentally different from others, basic theories and distinctive principles and characteristics of Myanmar traditional medicines must be preserved as intangible cultural heritage and traditional medicine practitioners are required to make endeavours to prove the validity of the basic theories.
Looking at the history of Myanmar traditional medicines during the reigns of ancient Myanmar kings, it was found that Desananaya medical science Chauk Lone Kaut medicine, which is one of the genuine Myanmar traditional medicines, was invented by Taungtha Saya Hmont during the reign of King Mindon. Although such potent medicines were invented, some medical subjects have disappeared because there were only a few learners due to the need to study them in theory and practice by staying close to physicians and limitations of and weaknesses in handing down medical heritage records. Therefore, the government founded a traditional medicine university in Mandalay in 2001 and graduate traditional medicine practitioners have been nurtured. By holding Myanmar traditional medicine practitioners' conferences every year, there are many benefits as veteran physicians can share their medical knowledge and experience with new generation youths and leave their medical legacies as the saying goes, "Words of elders are invaluable if they are handed down to younger generations." Therefore, new generation youths are required to exert efforts for further development of traditional medicine to keep up with the times.
As Myanmar is a member of the ASEAN, the country is cooperating with other members in all sectors. It can be seen that Myanmar is keeping abreast of other members in registration and trade of traditional medicines. Traditional medicine practitioners and entrepreneurs are required to take measures without losing sight to cooperate in and discuss academic matters with ASEAN countries and to trade medicines mutually among member countries.
Similarly, it can be seen that the country is also cooperating with regional organizations such as BIMSTEC and Mekong regional organizations. Moreover, the country participated in traditional medicine (B2B) conference held in India in 2023, conferences on prevention, control and treatment for COVID-19 and infectious diseases between India and the ASEAN, conference on prevention of infectious diseases by combining traditional medicines and western medicines for developing countries held in China, China-ASEAN medical development and cooperation forum, China-ASEAN traditional medicine and healthcare for tourists international forum and traditional medicine forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Moreover, it was also learnt that Ayurveda physicians from India took part in the 12th traditional medicine research paper reading session held in Myanmar.
If we look at the world’s health and medicine area, it is found that the use of drugs formulated with the parts of medicinal plants has become more important internationally. Natural therapies are increasingly being used in giving treatment to patients. Efforts are being made to improve health through maintaining a balanced diet of metabolism processes with karma, mind, season and nutrition.
Since the days of our ancestors, we have been taking care of our health with Myanmar’s traditional medicines, and it is certain that it will continue to exist in the future. Systematic research on Myanmar’s Wi ThaMa antipyretic traditional medicine could be conducted to use it for the COVID-19, and it has already been applied in traditional medicine hospitals and medical centers.
There are many things to do such as being able to preserve Myanmar traditional medicine as a national heritage medicine, provide more care of public health, ensure development of human resources with full competence on traditional medicine, carry out more traditional medicine research measures, produce safe and effective medicines, make Myanmar traditional medicine and medicines world-class, pass remedies and medicines currently applied by veteran traditional practitioners down to the next generation.
The Ministry of Health, the Department of Traditional Medicine, the Advisory Board of Traditional Medicine, the Myanmar Traditional Medicine Council, the Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association and traditional medicine manufacturers and practitioners are urged to work together in unity and cooperation towards further development of traditional medicine.
Next, a record video on measures for development of the traditional medicine sector by the Traditional Medicine Department was shown.
Then, Union Minister of Health Dr Thet Khaing Win presented a commemorative gift in honour of the 22nd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and Myanmar Traditional Medicine Seminar to Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.
Afterwards, the Vice-Senior General and party had documentary photos taken together with the Chairman of Myanmar Medical Council, members of the traditional medicine advisory board, traditional practitioners, traditional medicine manufacturers, representatives and officials.
After the opening ceremony, the Vice-Senior General, along with officials, took a tour of traditional healing rooms and booths on display. Then, the Chairman of Myanmar Medical Council and members presented a gift of traditional medicine to the Vice-Senior General.