Monjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals

Department of Medical Services

Ministry of Health

TM History at Glance

Buddha taught medicine along with Dharma in India

gSo.ba.rig.pa spread to Tibet and Bhutan in 8th century

Assimilated elements from:

- Greek-Roman medical system (via Persia)

- Ayurvedic medical tradition (from India)

- Chinese traditional medicine (China)

- Pre-Buddhist shamanistic and Bon traditions of Bhutan

Gained momentum in 1616-Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal’s reign

TM History at Glance

Before 1967 not institutionalized: only Penlops, Dzongpons, Debs and Elites had access

Only 1967-gso-ba-rig-pa was included in the mainstream of health care services

1967-1st Indigenous Unit established at Dechencholing

1978 – Training center was instituted

1979 – Hospital shifted to present location

1998 – The Institute was reorganized as ITMS

Today, it function as an integrated part of health care services under Ministry of Health

Mandates of TM Services

Preserve and promote the traditional medical system

Provide traditional health care services to the people

Develop human resources for NTMH & PRU

Produce quality traditional medicines or products

Conduct research and development

Procurement & Marketing

Research & Development

Production of Traditional Medicine and commercialproducts

Quality control and management

Menjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals

Product development

6 types of product ranges under development

-Pharmaceutics (existing product modification)

-OTC

-Nutraceuticals

-Health promoting

-Fragrance and essence

-Cosmetics and toiletries (greatest challenge)

Need contract researching and manufacturing

Publication related to TM

Monograph volume I (uploaded)

Monograph volume I second edition (???)

Monograph volume II (uploaded)

High altitude medicinal plants of Bhutan (to upload)

Low altitude medicinal plants of Bhutan (to upload)

Guidelines for identification & collection of medicinal plants in Bhutan (could not get soft copy)

Publication related to TMMenjong Sorig Journal (Dzongkha & English)

Khrung-poe on mineral (Dzongkha)

Classification of diseases (Dzongkha)

Handbook on quality control of raw materials (???)

Reports on alternate sourcing of high and low altitude medicinal plants

Digital photograph on research institute and some medicinal plants

Limited research capacity-development priorities on providing basic social services-capital intensive-expensive equipments-highly specialised and technical area

Ensuring sustainability-Green resources limits expansion

Protection of rights and patenting

Constraints and Challenges

Promoting autonomy in management and financial self-sustainability of MSP

Strengthening of Research & Development in MSP

Building collaborating partners for R&D and contract manufacturing

Protection of Intellectual Property Rights and patenting new findings and products

Future Priorities