PM supports high-tech medicine production

BANGKOK, May 8 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said his government will give full support to local firms producing biopharm medicines in an attempt to help the poor to acquire good but inexpensive medicines. Gen Prayut said after visiting Siam Bioscience Co Ltd, a drug producer using high technology in manufacturing medicines and cosmetics, that Thailand spends about 16 billion baht annually on imported biopharmaceuticals. Biopharma is the application or extraction of components of living organisms to make a drug to prevent, relieve or treat human diseases. Siam Bioscience Co Ltd has launched its biopharmaceuticals project in Thailand, aiming to produce world-class drugs to serve local demand and cut down on the cost of imports. The company can produce several types of biopharma drugs to treat complicated diseases such as cancers and systemic lupus erythematosus. Siam Bioscience is a collaboration between the private sector and Mahidol University. Thai hospitals will be urged to buy locally-made biopharm medicines which are much cheaper than those imported into the country and yet they meet required standards. State-run and military hospitals will from now asked to use locally-made medicines at least 30 per cent of the total imports, he said, adding that they will also be asked to formally register those innovative medicines. (END)