Herbal medicine to be added in National Drug List

BANGKOK, July 21 (TNA) – The Ministry of Public Health is working on selection of Thai traditional medicines to be added in the National List of Essential Drug to promote herbal remedies and reduce unnecessary use of modern medicine in state hospitals. Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said a committee planned to conclude the list of 100 traditional medicine formulas within three months. These selected herbal medicines will be registered with the Food and Drug Administration and will be listed as the National Essential Drug for use to replace some modern medicine in state hospitals. The traditional medicines, which have been already approved, are such as Thai herbal to relieve stomach aches, pain and dizzy or Ya-hom and others with herbal properties as a cure for several illnesses such as fever, fatigue, muscle stiffness, abnormal menstruation and indigestion. The minister also said about the Department of Comptroller General’s concern over the increasing medical treatment cost of civil servants through the welfare system that the public health ministry has geared up to create understanding on rational use of medicines among them as unnecessary use of medicines can cause the problem of drug resistance in hospitals. (TNA)