BPI Pharmaceutical Museum: Prime Minister attends launching ceremony

BPI Pharmaceutical Museum of Myanma Pharmaceutical Industrial Enterprise of the Ministry of Industry and new Freeze Dryer Machine for snake anti-venom was launched at the Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) on Monday with an attendance of Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Firstly, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister unveiled the commemorative stone pillar of BPI Pharmaceutical Museum and sprinkled with scented water. After that, the Prime Minister viewed the commemorative stone pillar of Myanma Pharmaceutical Industry set up by former Prime Minister U Nu on 23rd April 1954.

Afterwards, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Union Minister for Industry, Yangon Region Chief Minister and the Commander formally opened the BPI Pharmaceutical Museum.

The Prime Minister and party then looked into Feature Wall, Museum Directory Map, documentary photos and paintings.

At the briefing hall of the museum,  Union Minister for Industry Dr Charlie Than reported on progress of works on the Prime Minister’s guidance, renovation of pharmaceutical manufacturing buildings, boosting production of anti-venoms, increasing production of pharmacy in local to reduce the import of medicines from abroad, arrangements for purchasing medicines by the people with equitable prices, producing more new pharmaceutical items and COVID-19 vaccines, the aims of BPI Pharmaceutical Museum and benefits.

In response to the reports, the Prime Minister said that there are three parts in health sector that are education, prevention and treatment. The role of Myanma Pharmaceutical Enterprise is prevention and treatment. The country’s life expectancy is low in compared to other nations.

That’s why, it needs to conduct public health awareness, preventions and treatments. More efforts will be made for manufacturing of potent medicines and conducting medical researches. In order to produce enough medicines locally, efforts are being made to import raw materials for medicines from abroad and produce them with domestic industries.

It is necessary to be sufficient drugs that are mostly used in local. Tatmadaw Pharmaceutical factories are producing annually and likewise, Myanma Pharmaceutical Industry needs to help private pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises for drugs manufacturing.

The Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) is a factory that is assisting a lot for the nation as the factory is manufacturing necessary medicines for the people. The Prime Minister expressed his appreciations to pharmacists who are taking part in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, staffs who are in-service and former staffs.

Later, the Prime Minister and party viewed around the BPI Pharmaceutical history Museum and signed the distinguished visitors’ book. The Union Minister for Industry then presented a commemorative gift for opening the museum to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister and party then visited Snake Anti-venom manufacturing division and heard reports of officials on production of anti-venoms, performances of new Freeze Dryer Machine, uses and manufacturing processes on which the Prime Minister discussed production processes.

The Prime Minister then started to operate the new Freeze Dryer Machine for snake anti-venom. After that, the Prime Minister and party then had lunch together with staffs of Myanma Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) and in-service and retired pharmacists at the mess hall.

After lunch, the Prime Minister said that Myanma Pharmaceutical Industry (BPI) has been producing quality medicines since many years and has a good reputation until now.

BPI is also able to maintain the good qualifications that have already existed thanks to sharing knowledge of the great pharmacists who served in the past and hard-working of the new generation staff and called for serving more the interests of the state and the people in future.

The Prime Minister and party then cordially greeted staffs and in-service and retired pharmacists. The inscription pillar of Myanmar Pharmaceutical Industry BPI was set up by Prime Minister U Nu on 23rd April 1954 and President U Win Maung opened with the name, “Burma Pharmaceutical Industry, BPI) on 23rd April in 1958.

It was started operation with 41 kind of medicines and 6 types of vaccines. Based on the human resource of Myanma Pharmaceutical Industry (BPI), the factories, research centers and sub-divisions have been extended.

BPI Pharmaceutical Museum was opened with the aims for keeping experiences of pharmaceutical production over 60 years, maintaining machines and manufacturing processes, reference medical treatises, progress based in human resource, preserving valuable histories and learning for new generations.