Myanmar’s first privately owned pharmaceutical factory opened its doors in Dagon Seikkan Township, Yangon on the third week of July.
Located in Industrial Zone 1, Pacific Medical Industries Limited’s (PMI) facility is a two-story building that includes offices, a quality control area, and a massive 16,630 square meter manufacturing floor.
In an effort to relieve the country’s reliance on imported pharmaceutical products, CEO Zaw Moe Khaing built a state-of-the-art factory that meets international standards while providing Myanmar people with affordable medicine.
“90 percent of pharmaceuticals consumed in Myanmar are imported. Further, Myanmar is the only country in the ASEAN region with no privately owned pharmaceutical manufacturing,” said U Zaw Moe Khaing, CEO of Pacific AA Group.
Myanmar relies heavily on India, Thailand, Philippines, France, U.S., and China, for pharmaceutical products. The lion’s share comes from Indonesia, which accounts for roughly half of all healthcare imports, according to Government statistics.
PMI’s $20 million facility is looking to treat the country’s medicinal woes by building the first Myanmar facility to receive a Drug Manufacturing Establishment Registration from the United States Food & Drug Administration, in addition to their Myanmar FDA approval.
The PMI facility strictly adheres to the WHO and EU GMP guidelines as well as the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S), an international operative agreement that regulates the production of medicinal products.
U Zaw Moe Khaing wants his factory’s consumer safety and product quality to far exceed that of substandard rivals in neighboring Bangladesh and China.
Initially, PMI will offer 50 different types of medicine, ranging from simple oral products such as tablets, capsules, and powders before expanding to more sophisticated medication capable of treating diseases like hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, according to Dr. Saw Nay Nwal, Executive Director of Pacific AA Group.
“We will offer affordable healthcare by creating locally made products that meet international standards of quality and safety,” Dr. Saw Nay Nwal said.
Myanmar’s current domestic pharmaceutical production is limited to state owned enterprises operated by the Ministry of Industry. Under the banner of Myanmar Pharmaceutical Industries, two factories have operated since the late 1950s and produce approximately 200 types of medicine.
Source: Myanmar Business Today