At Dhaka, Bangladesh
The Fourth Meeting of the BIMSTEC Network of National Centres on Coordination in Traditional Medicine (BNNCCTM) was held on16-17 June 2019 in Dhaka, Bangladesh at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Delegations from all BIMSTEC Member States attended the Meeting.
The Meeting was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Zahid Maleque, M.P, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh. Among others, the Secretary of Health Services Division of Bangladesh and the Ambassadors of Bhutan and Myanmar to Bangladesh were present. The Minister, in his Keynote Address, stated that despite excellent development in synthetic chemistry and biotechnology, plants are still an indispensible source of medicinal preparations, both preventive and curative. He added that the Government of Bangladesh is keen to work with the Member States to adjust curriculum and courses in Unani and Ayurvedic Systems of medicine and underscored the importance to expand cooperation in the areas of education, research, technology and development of international standard pharmacopoeia in traditional medicine in the region.
H.E. Mr. Zahid Maleque, M.P, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh (centre)
Delegations to the 4th BNNCCTM Meeting emphasized on the need to establish alliances for both traditional and non-traditional medicines in holistic manner. The Meeting also reviewed the role and mandate of the BNNCCTM and need to explore the possible expansion of cooperation among the Member States on non communicable diseases and trans-national public health issues that threaten the economic and social progress of the peoples of BIMSTEC region. Towards this end, the Meeting directed the Secretariat to circulate the presentation of Thailand on expansion of the regional cooperation in the area of public health sector beyond traditional medicines for views and comments of the Member States, considering other regional mechanisms in place to take care of the concerns raised by the BIMSTEC Leaders during the 4th Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal in August 2018.
The Meeting welcomed the offer of India to host the next BNNCCTM Meeting in 2021 and requested India to expedite on convening of the Workshop on Harmonization of Curricula for Mutual Recognition of Traditional Medicine Degrees, as agreed during the Second Meeting of BIMSTEC Task Force on Traditional Medicine (BTFTM) held in January 2019 at Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar.
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