Patent protection for traditional medicine

Patent protection for traditional medicine

Traditional Thai medical therapy demonstrated at a recent fair to promote its use. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)
Traditional Thai medical therapy demonstrated at a recent fair to promote its use. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)

The Public Health Ministry on Friday issued new regulations to protect thousands of traditional Thai medications and therapeutic practices dating back about two centuries from free commercial exploitation.

Health Minister Rachata Rachatanavin said the three new regulations were a response to past commercial use of traditional Thai medications and practices by foreign interests looking to exploit the high commercial potential of traditional Thai medicine that had not been previously protected.

The regulations cover traditional  medicine that has been widely used and dates from the reign of King Rama II, about two centuries ago, traditional treatments that have been compiled and further developed, and new medications being registered.

The regulations covered over 4,300 traditional treatments and 33 traditional medications to date, and authorities were still certifying individuals' traditional therapies, the minister said.

As a result of the new regulations, any party that commercially used protected traditional medicine must seek permission, pay usage fees starting at 20,000 baht, and share at least three percent of sales value, and the money would go to the government coffers, said Dr Twatchai Kamoltham, director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

Those defying the rules were liable to imprisonment of up to two years and/or a fine of up to 40,000 baht.

The Public Health Ministry issues new regulations to protect traditional Thai medicine. (Photo by Panumas Sanguanwong)

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