BANGKOK, 2 August 2014 – The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) is looking to boost production of five groups of crucial medicines to preempt any shortage of the drugs.
Dr. Suwat Siasiriwatthana, director of the GPO, spoke of his agency’s effort to mend the shortage of some medicines at hospitals. The five categories of medicine the GPO has been tasked to produce include antivirals, drugs against contagious diseases, drugs produced per the policy of the Ministry of Public Health, psychiatric medicines, Tuberculosis medicines and essential emergency medicines.
Dr. Suwat said the permanent-secretary of the Public Health Ministry has told the GPO to plan for increasing the production of antivirals and ‘Metformin’ diabetes drugs, while maintaining production output for psychiatric and tuberculosis drugs. The GPO will also be requesting additional budget as well as an extension of 500 days for the construction of its new vaccine factory. Meanwhile, the GPO factory in Rangsit area north of Bangkok is expected to start production in one year.
