BANGKOK, 28 September 2012 – The Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, has opened a Thai Herb Center which houses all well-researched native medicinal plants in the country, to promote their use as alternative medicines.
Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health, Dr. Somchai Nijpanich who officiated at the opening ceremony of the center, revealed that the herb center aims to educate people about herbs in Thailand and their medicinal qualities as people these days often misuse them due to lack of knowledge. Furthermore, some herbs are called differently in different regions, or their physical appearance might change when dried. Some herbs are rare to find and other plants are used as replacements, thus creating confusion over sources of those herbs.
Dr. Somchai added that the Public Health Ministry wants to make Thai medicinal plants alternatives to traditional medicine. Currently, nearly 100 types of native herbs have been included in the national drug list. The Ministry has been spending over 300 million baht each year to make these medicinal herbs available at government health centers.
The Thai Herb Center is located on the fourth floor of the Medicinal Plant Research Institute on Tiwanond Road, Nonthaburi Province. It is open on weekdays from 9 am to 4.30 pm. For more information, please contact 0-2951-0000 extension 99278.
