Nghe An Traditional Medicine Hospital: Modernizing the production line of oriental medicine

Investing in new technology to produce medicine

With the orientation of promoting the effectiveness of traditional medicine to basically meet the demand for oriental medicine in hospital treatment, in recent years, Nghe An Traditional Medicine Hospital has focused on investing in a system of machinery serving the production and processing of modern medicinal herbs, creating a closed, synchronized chain according to the process.

The hospital invested in a system of medicinal herb extraction machines (cold evaporation, sterile evaporation). Photo: Duc Anh

At the same time, the Hospital is interested in training the capacity of the staff of the Pharmacy Department. The quality of human resources is a vital factor for the unit. Understanding this, the Hospital has cooperated with leading academies and institutes of traditional medicine and pharmacy to provide continuous training and practical training to improve the professional skills of pharmacists.

The hospital has put into use a modern medicinal herb cutting machine system to improve the efficiency of oriental medicine production. Photo: Duc Anh

Thanks to the support of machines to replace the previous manual methods, the production and preparation of medicinal herbs has been promoted, ensuring the correct implementation of technical procedures, reaching over 100% of the plan; promptly meeting the treatment needs of the entire Hospital in terms of both quantity and quality. In order for the medicinal products to be effective and safe for patients, the Hospital has strengthened the control and appraisal of the quality of medicinal herbs and used guaranteed medicinal herbs. All units supplying medicinal herbs to the Hospital are centrally bid at the Nghe An Department of Health, thus ensuring standards, quality as well as origin.

The hospital has produced and prepared 192 medicinal herbs, including 42 finished products. Photo: Duc Anh

Currently, Nghe An Traditional Medicine Hospital has produced and prepared 192 medicinal herbs, including 42 finished products (medicine bags, pills, liquid extracts), alcohol, and foot bath powder. Some medicinal products have affirmed their brands such as: Ansthetizing pills, HT - blood lipid lowering, massage alcohol, huong to giai cam, cuu nao thao, foot bath water medicine, cao thanh pho chi thai, bo duong duong nao hoan, vuong huong phan dieu hoan... In 2020 alone, over 24,000 kg of medicinal herbs were prepared, nearly 42,000 medicinal doses were prepared according to prescriptions, and more than 137,000 medicinal bags were prepared; 3 types of liquid extracts were produced, with a total quantity of nearly 24,000 bottles; 4 types of pills were produced; nearly 134,000 doses; other products were produced such as: medicinal alcohol, foot bath medicine, foot bath medicine, for treatment purposes; Antibacterial gel for Covid 19 prevention and control.

Ensuring the source of oriental medicine for treatment

Traditional medicine and pharmaceutical products are produced by the Hospital based on the method of applying ancient medicine prescriptions, combined with modern and experimental methods, which have proven effective on thousands of patients being treated here. Currently, every day, the Hospital combines traditional medicine methods with modern medicine and uses oriental medicine, contributing to improving the treatment effectiveness for nearly 1,000 patients in clinical departments.

Oriental medicine products are produced and used by the Hospital, contributing to improving treatment effectiveness. Photo: Duc Anh

For example, patient Ho Thi Lang (born in 1962) had back pain, difficulty walking and daily activities. The patient was diagnosed with sciatica, cervical arm syndrome, knee osteoarthritis, and a history of hernia... After 10 days of treatment at the Intensive Care and Anti-Poison Department, using electroacupuncture, electropulse, laser, shockwave therapy, hot and cold heat combined with the use of oriental medicine (increasing blood circulation, promoting blood circulation, foot steaming, foot soaking, and herbal decoctions in bags), the patient felt much better, and could move and walk more easily.

The hospital continues to invest in machinery and equipment systems to build an increasingly modern, professional and effective drug production process. Photo: Duc Anh

Promoting the value of precious traditional medicine remedies and ensuring the proactive source of oriental medicine for treatment is one of the key objectives identified by Nghe An Traditional Medicine Hospital. To achieve that goal, the Hospital continues to invest in equipment to modernize the production and processing lines of medicine.

Dr. Ho Van Thang - Party Secretary, Director of Nghe An Traditional Medicine Hospital: "According to the plan, in 2021, the Pharmacy Department will equip more CO2 gas medicine washing machines, tablet and capsule making machines and produce 22 products. The hospital continues to invest in machinery and equipment to build an increasingly modern, professional and effective medicine production process. In addition, the hospital continues to coordinate with related units to organize acceptance, evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of drugs. The goal of the hospital is not only to supply traditional medicine for treatment in the unit but also to expand the production of a variety of products, increase the quantity to meet market demand, serve people who need to use oriental medicine in treatment and care, and improve their health".

The inevitable rule for developing traditional medicine and pharmacy effectively, safely and sustainably is the synchronous and smooth development of medicine and pharmacy. Thanks to the focus on developing these two specialized fields in parallel, Nghe An Traditional Medicine Hospital has been fulfilling its mission of caring for and protecting people's health, preserving and promoting the quintessence of traditional medicine./.