Perfecting the mechanism for preserving and developing medicinal plant varieties: A strategic step for Vietnamese traditional medicine

SKĐS - Building a system of conservation gardens and a national medicinal plant seed center is a key solution to preserve the precious genetic resources of Vietnamese traditional medicine.

To better understand this issue, Health & Life Newspaper reporters had an interview with Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Thanh Huyen, Director of the Center for Medicinal Materials Resources - Institute of Medicinal Materials ( Ministry of Health ).

Reporter (PV): Dear Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Thanh Huyen, why is the development of a system of conservation gardens and the National Center for Medicinal Plant Varieties considered a strategic direction for the traditional medicine industry in Vietnam today?

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Thanh Huyen, Director of the Center for Medicinal Resources - Institute of Medicinal Materials (Ministry of Health ).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thanh Huyen: Vietnam has more than 5,000 recorded medicinal plant species, many of which are endemic, rare and of high medicinal value. However, spontaneous exploitation, climate change and biodiversity loss are putting many medicinal gene sources at risk of disappearing.

The development of a system of conservation gardens and a national medicinal plant breeding center is a comprehensive solution to preserve, restore and develop valuable genetic resources, while proactively providing standard breeding sources for production and research. This is also an important step to develop Vietnamese traditional medicine in a modern, sustainable and internationally integrated direction.

PV: Could you please share more about the model and development orientation of this system in the coming time?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thanh Huyen: The system will be built according to a regional linkage model, including regional conservation gardens in different ecological zones and the National Center for Medicinal Plant Varieties playing the role of scientific and technical focal point.

Here, we focus on standardizing the process of selecting, multiplying and preserving medicinal plant varieties according to GACP-WHO standards; at the same time, applying biotechnology, gene technology and electronic traceability to ensure the quality of output varieties and medicinal plants.

The goal is to build a unified nationwide conservation and propagation network, serving simultaneously the research, production and commercialization of safe and sustainable medicinal herbs.

Conservation and development of Lai Chau Ginseng at Sa Pa Medicinal Materials Research Center (Institute of Medicinal Materials).

PV: How do you assess the current difficulties and challenges in the conservation and development of medicinal plant resources in our country?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thanh Huyen: The biggest challenge is the lack of a synchronous coordination mechanism between ministries, branches, localities and enterprises. Many places do not have a specific legal corridor to protect genetic resources or share benefits when exploiting and developing medicinal plant varieties. In addition, investment resources for research and conservation are limited, while standardizing varieties, building gene banks and transferring technology require large costs and high-quality human resources.

We need to soon perfect the mechanism, policies and institutions for managing national medicinal resources, considering this a national strategic asset, closely linked to the development of Vietnam's traditional medicine economy.

The development of a system of conservation gardens and a national medicinal plant seed center is a comprehensive solution to preserve, restore and develop valuable genetic resources, while proactively providing standard seed sources for production and research.

PV: In the context of international integration, how should the promotion of the value of Vietnamese traditional medicine be oriented, Associate Professor?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thanh Huyen : We have a great advantage in indigenous knowledge and natural resources, but to integrate, we need to standardize and prove it scientifically. The Center for Medicinal Resources Conservation is coordinating with institutes, schools and businesses to research active ingredients, build scientific profiles and standardize the planting - harvesting - processing process.

The long-term goal is to combine traditional values ​​with modern technology, forming a closed medicinal value chain, helping Vietnamese traditional medicine stand firm in the region and reach out to the world.

PV: Could you please share your message to units, scientists and the community in the current work of preserving medicinal herbs?

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Thanh Huyen: Preserving and developing medicinal herbs is not only a scientific task, but also a responsibility to preserve the nation's traditional medical heritage.

I hope that management agencies, research institutes, businesses and people will join hands to build a sustainable network for the conservation and development of medicinal herbs, contributing to the preservation of precious genetic resources and proactively sourcing domestic raw materials.

That is the foundation for Vietnamese traditional medicine to develop self-reliance, modernity and international integration.

PV: Thank you very much, Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Thanh Huyen!

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Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/hoan-thien-co-che-bao-ton-va-phat-trien-giong-duoc-lieu-buoc-di-chien-luoc-cho-y-hoc-co-truyen-viet-nam-169251029223925614.htm