Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin has outlined how prisons nationwide will increase production of the green chiretta medicinal herb to help fight the pandemic.
It was expected that the first batch of 8 million green chiretta capsules will be harvested on Sept 2, in an attempt to shore up depleted stocks of the herb also known locally as Fah talai jone (Andrographis paniculata).
Mr Somsak revealed the details in a meeting with Corrections Department director-general Aryut Sinthopphan and prison wardens nationwide in a meeting via video conference yesterday.
Due to vaccination uncertainty and the high price of antiviral Favipiravir, green chiretta has become an alternative form of protection against Covid-19. Additionally, it is cheaper and also supports Thai traditional medicine, Mr Somsak said.
However, high demand for green chiretta has made distribution difficult.
To help meet demand, the ministry has implemented a measure to plant herbs, especially green chiretta, in free spaces inside prisons.
As such, first crops of green chiretta at prisons nationwide will be able to harvest around 8 million capsules worth on 8-rai fields on Sept 2, followed by 50 rai on Oct 22 and further 7 rai on Nov 20, Mr Somsak said.
"However, it is unsure that how many capsules are needed for each person. The medical unit then was instructed to study this in detail as prisons also want to produce green chiretta as well," said Mr Somsak.
Meanwhile, Mr Somsak also handed over 6 million green chiretta capsules to Mr Aryut and prison wardens to distribute to 100,000 inmates across country to provide them with some protection against Covid-19.