Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win addresses coordination meeting of Leading Committee for Organizing 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference and Myanmar Traditional Medicine Symposium
NAY PYI TAW November 4
A coordination meeting of the Leading Committee for Organizing the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference and Myanmar Traditional Medicine Symposium was held this afternoon at the meeting hall of the Ministry of Health in Nay Pyi Taw, addressed by Patron of the Leading Committee Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.
The meeting was attended by Union Minister Dr.Thet Khaing Win, Chairman of the Leading Committee, along with committee members, sub-committee members, and relevant officials.
In his speech, the Vice-Senior General noted that today’s coordination meeting is part of preparations for successfully organizing the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference and Symposium in 2024. He explained that since the state-level conference first began in 2000, a total of 22 conferences have been successfully held, and it is now the committee’s responsibility to ensure the smooth and successful organization of this 23rd conference by coordinating and discussing all necessary arrangements in detail.
The 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Conference will be held with the aim of promoting the recognition of quality standards in traditional medicine education, advancing the development of traditional medicine, producing traditional medicines in line with modern standards, training more qualified traditional medicine practitioners, and fostering respect for Myanmar's traditional cultural heritage. To achieve these objectives, everyone is encouraged to work together and contribute collectively. Efforts will also be made through this conference and exchange events to preserve Myanmar's traditional medicine practices, which have been passed down through generations, as a part of the nation's cultural heritage.
At the conference, proposals will be submitted and discussions supported, while the papers to be presented at the symposium will focus on traditional medicines and treatments used by indigenous people over generations, as well as current medicinal practices among ethnic groups. Additionally, these papers will compare traditional medicines used internationally, assessing their strengths and weaknesses. It is especially encouraged that efforts are made to make these medicines more widely accessible to the public.
The records of the conference and symposium activities are to be systematically documented, as in previous years, so they may serve future generations.
It is essential to preserve these records carefully to ensure they remain intact and available for descendants. Given the digital era, a database should be created to consolidate the information from original documents, which would be stored on the ministry’s websites and servers. Moreover, efforts should be made to make the documented medicines easily consumable by the public, and to develop innovative ways to do so. Once produced, it is necessary to register these traditional medicines for intellectual property protection.
Traditional medicine physicians in Myanmar utilize natural resources from the country's forests, mountains, waters, and land in their traditional medicines. Across all ages, they have not only cared for public health but also provided the best possible support with traditional medicine during epidemics and natural disasters.
Additionally, as part of international cooperation, it is essential to collaborate with organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, and the Mekong River Commission to enhance the quality of Myanmar's traditional medicines and make effective traditional medicines that can achieve breakthroughs in international markets. It is also essential to discuss the development of Myanmar's traditional medicines as a national heritage at this conference, focusing on gathering the essence of these practices, including remedies, invaluable medical texts with a rich historical tradition, and effective medicines.
As Myanmar traditional medicine physicians and manufacturers participate in meetings, workshops, and training programs in other nations, we would like to invite specialists from neighboring countries and beyond to join the discussions at this conference and seminar.
Therefore, he emphasized that to successfully hold the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Physicians Conference and Traditional Medicines Seminar
at the national level, it is essential for the work committee and sub-committee to cooperate and ensure there are no gaps in their respective sectors.
Then, Chairman of Steering Committee, Union Minister for Health, Dr. Thet Khaing Win, explained the reasons for holding the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Physicians Conference and Traditional Medicines Seminar, and the need for it to be successfully held.
And then, Chairman of Work Committee and Chief Director of Traditional Medicine Department, Dr. Su SuDway, presented details on the status of Steering Committee and Sub-Committee's work, along with future plans to successfully hold the seminar and this year’s seminar information.
Continuing, officials from Invitation and Welcome Sub-Committee, Security Sub-Committee, Health Sub-Committee, Information and Press Release Sub- Committee, Ceremony Preparation Sub-Committee, Hosting Sub-Committee, Transport and Accommodation Sub-Committee, and Financial Sub-Committee
discussed their respective sectors to ensure the successful holding of the event.
Following that, the Vice-Senior General coordinated the briefings, delivered concluding remarks, and closed the seminar.