December 22
First and foremost, I would like to extend my warm greetings to all officials, Myanmar veteran traditional medicine practitioners, related experts and guests from regions and states in attendance to today’s Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference and Myanmar Traditional Medicine Seminar for enjoying all auspiciousness and physical and mental well-being.
The Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference and Myanmar Traditional Medicine Seminar are held yearly, and this year’s occasion will be the 22nd. In 2023, I am glad to hear that
veteran traditional medicine practitioners from various parts of the country will hold discussions at the 22nd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference and Myanmar Traditional Medicine Seminar with the aim of developing the Myanmar traditional medicine arena in all aspects.
The art of Myanmar’s traditional medicine, with a prolonged history in thousands of years, has flourished with firm development as Myanmar’s cultural heritage. Myanmar people have been using Myanmar traditional medicines in successive eras. Based on four Naya such as Desana, Bhesijja, Vijja and Nakkhatta, as the basic subjects of the art of Myanmar traditional medicine, the records on treatment with the use of traditional medicines can be seen in palm leaves, folded papers and literary and medical treatises in Tagaung, Sri Ksetra, Bagan, Inwa and Konbaung eras. Moreover, significant records can be found that experienced traditional medicine practitioners in ancient eras provided healthcare services to the kings, royal families, court of counsellors, military generals and people. In addition, more than 70 per cent of Myanmar people reside in rural areas, and they are still relying on the use of traditional medicines for their health conditions daily.
The government is striving to enhance the health sector so that everyone can enjoy health and fitness. Hence, the establishment of traditional medicine hospitals and clinics has been extended one after another across the nation in order to fully provide healthcare services to the people with Myanmar traditional medicines, which are Myanmar’s cultural heritage medicinal subjects.
Modern medical science is developing in all countries around the world, and they are using natural medicines on a broader scale. In line with the concept of food as medicine and medicine as food, the proper ratio of tastes in foods as a basic knowledge of Myanmar traditional medicine can be consumed to have a healthy chance for a long lifespan. As such, it is necessary to preserve Myanmar’s traditional medicine, and people should consume foods in proper ratios under Myanmar’s traditional medicine techniques.
I would like to urge all to cooperate with international organizations in order to enhance Myanmar’s traditional medicine standards the practitioners handed over to new generations in successive eras and modernize the art of traditional medicine, study technologies and share knowledge and experiences in all aspects for enabling Myanmar traditional medicine to stand tall in the international arena. In so doing, the government will assist in its process.
Under the guidance of the State, the Ministry of Health leads the process of allocating research funds annually to conduct research works. The Department of Traditional Medicine needs to exert the research process on therapies of Myanmar traditional medicine, methods of medications and herbal plants to be evidence-based medical education, up from experience-based medical education.
At a time when many global countries are facing infection of COVID-19, the Department of Traditional Medicine under the Ministry of Health systematically researched Withama fever medicine aligned with the Myanmar traditional medicine treatises to produce a potent medicine to cure the symptoms of COVID-19 successfully. It is delightful that traditional hospitals and clinics use such medicine in treating patients of COVID-19 as well as seasonal flu. The government encourages the long-term existence of MSME businesses based on domestic raw materials in producing traditional medicines with guarantees. I urge all to systematically conduct research on Myanmar traditional medicines like Withama fever medicine to win the people’s trust and reliance and aim to export safe and quality Myanmar traditional medicines to the international market in addition to the domestic market.
In conclusion, the Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference and Myanmar Traditional Medicine Seminar are held annually as an important sector for the development of Myanmar’s traditional medicine and traditional drugs. I would like to thank the Ministry of Health and related ministries, experts and those from the traditional medicine arena for successfully organizing the Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference and Myanmar Traditional Medicine Seminar. I sent this message of honour to all representatives with best wishes for carrying out healthcare services to the people and further improvement of traditional medicine sector through friendly and united coordination and discussions in harmony.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
Prime Minister
Chairman of the State Administration Council
