Health ministry, Cultiva partner to develop traditional medicine

The Ministry of Health and Cultiva Company Limited have signed an agreement on research and development in the cultivation of crops for use in traditional medicine.
The two parties agreed to work together in research aspects of traditional medicine and to carry out a feasibility study on the construction of a new facility for crop research in Vientiane.
The planned facility will be a research and testing centre and carry out activities with a focus on the “study, research, analysis and quality assurance certifications of Lao medicinal and agricultural crops”.

The agreement was signed on Thursday by the Director General of the Institute of Traditional Medicine, Ministry of Health, Dr Bounleuane Douangdeuan, and the Founder and Director of Cultiva Company Limited, Mr Phonsavanh Alex Pham.
The event was attended by the Minister of Health, Dr Bounfeng Phommalaisith, along with senior officials from the ministry and invited guests.
The two parties will implement the agreed areas of cooperation through joint participation in research projects, the establishment of a laboratory and workshops, seminars, meetings and conferences.
The company will provide about US$20 million for the construction and equipping of the laboratory with modern tools including software and IT equipment sufficient for all project needs.
The Institute of Traditional Medicine will allocate and reserve land for the development of the laboratory for the study, research, testing and certification of plants for medicinal purposes.
Applications will be made for tax exemption on imported equipment related to the project, which will be detailed in the feasibility study. Mr Phonsavanh said construction of the centre is expected to get underway as soon as the feasibility study is completed at the end of this year.
“I would like to thank my partners who are unable to join us today due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. Champ, Eric, Jacqueline, Jenn and Kyle - without your tireless efforts we wouldn’t be where we are today,” he added.
“I would also like to express my greatest gratitude to the leadership within the Institute of Traditional Medicine for realising the great importance of developing this particular sector with Cultiva Company Limited and foreseeing the potential economic benefits that it will bring to our country and people,” Mr Phonsavanh said.
The company has technical responsibility for collaboration in research and testing for certificate of analysis approval and will provide sufficient and relevant technical staff to collaborate within the project in line with the agreement.

By Times reporters
(Latest Update June 11, 2021)