Developing the pharmaceutical industry associated with socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas

Announcement Ceremony of the Honor Program

Speaking at the ceremony, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen The Thinh, Director of the Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Management, said: Talking about traditional medicine and pharmacy means talking about medicinal herbs and raw materials for making medicine. However, today, medicinal herbs not only affirm their important role in taking care of people's health, but are also raw materials for the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries to create many valuable products that bring many economic benefits.

Recognizing the importance of the role of medicinal herbs, the Prime Minister signed a Decision on the orientation for the development of 8 raw material growing areas nationwide to grow 54 medicinal herbs, select and reasonably exploit 24 natural medicinal herbs. Along with that, the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the period 2021 - 2030, Phase I from 2021 to 2025; has opened up a direction for the development of medicinal herbs in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, not only developing and preserving medicinal plants but also helping to develop the socio-economy, bringing a prosperous life to people in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

With a rich ecosystem, Vietnam is considered a country with great potential for cultivating and developing rare and precious medicinal plants and herbs. According to statistics from the Institute of Medicinal Materials, Vietnam has recorded over 5,000 species of plants and fungi, 408 species of animals and 75 types of minerals with medicinal uses. Among them are many medicinal species that are valuable in terms of both medicinal uses and economic value. The development of medicinal plants can help many rural and mountainous areas to reduce poverty, develop the economy, ensure social security and protect the environment.

After nearly 30 years of implementing the work of preserving, exploiting and developing medicinal plant resources, the health sector has maintained a network of gene source conservation in 7 ecological regions including: the Red River Delta (Hanoi), the Northern midlands (Tam Dao), the Northern highlands (Lao Cai), the North Central region (Thanh Hoa), the Central Highlands (Da Lat), the South Central Coast (Phu Yen) and the Southeast region (Ho Chi Minh City). At the same time, the sector has preserved and preserved 1,531 gene sources of 884 medicinal plant species in 7 medicinal plant gardens of the units. In particular, there are currently 11 medicinal plants grown according to the principles and standards of "Good practice in cultivation and collection of medicinal plants" (GACP-WHO), including: Chasteberry, Artichoke, Morning Glory, Bitter ground vegetable, Polyscias fruticosa, Bitter leaf, Eclipta prostrata, Eclipta prostrata, Gymnema sylvestre, Tea vine and Moneywort.

To achieve the above achievements, it is impossible not to mention the enterprises, cooperatives and farmers in medicinal herb growing areas in Vietnam who are making efforts to expand the area of raw material production, prioritizing investment in scientific research, producing high-quality medicinal herbs, and developing the production of medicinal herbs with national brands.

According to journalist Tran Tuan Linh, Editor-in-Chief of Health and Life newspaper, the program to honor the development of Vietnamese medicinal herbs associated with socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2023 is not a competition but a way to encourage and motivate individuals, cooperatives and businesses to join hands for the development of Vietnamese medicinal herbs, in order to promote the value of medicinal herbs in health care and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. "At the same time, promote the chain of growing - production areas, develop medicines from medicinal herbs and health care and protection products from precious medicinal recipes, create more value for Vietnamese medicinal plants; at the same time, contribute to building the habit of "Vietnamese people using Vietnamese medicine" from Vietnam's strong medicinal products", journalist Tuan Linh shared.

The official award ceremony is expected to be held in early December 2023, which is an opportunity for cooperatives, cooperative unions, farmers and businesses in medicinal plant growing areas to look back on the journey of preserving and sustainably developing national natural resources, contributing to improving the quality of medicinal plants in caring for, protecting and improving the health of Vietnamese people.

Q.FLOWER

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