GPO to manufacture cancer drug to meet more demand

BANGKOK, Feb 27 (TNA) - Public Health Minister instructed Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) to go ahead with the plan to produce cancer drugs in order to ensure enough supplies for high numbers of cancer patients. Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said he gave a policy to GPO to pay attention to provision and production of rare and necessary medicines such as anti-cancer drugs, which are in high demand and expensive, particularly for four types of cancers, commonly found among Thais – breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer. He said Thailand signed a cooperation agreement with a foreign pharmaceutical company for technology transfer. It is expected that Thailand will be able to manufacture cancer drugs in 2026. Moreover, the ministry will also produce traditional herbal medicine for cancer treatment to meet demand of patients. GPO director Nopporn Cheanklin said that due to increasing life span, the number of cancer patients is expected to rise. Half of the GPO drug manufacturing will be cancer drug in the future, he added. (TNA)