The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) is a state enterprise which operates under the Ministry of Public Health. It was founded by Princess Srinagarindra, who as regent, affixed the royal signature to the GPO Act of 1966 (B.E. 2509) on 5th August 1966. GPO was established via a merger of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant (founded 1939) and the Pharmaceutical Department (founded 1901).
“Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant” the foundation of GPO
Dr. Tua Lophanukrom laid the foundation for the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant and determined the strategy for scientific and pharmaceutical works within the country, in order that these works might be provided with a firm foundation. This plant was established on 47 acres of crown property (today operating as the headquarters of GPO), at a time when Dr. Lophanukrom held the positions of Minister for the Economy and Director General of the Science Department, with the aim of promoting the local pharmaceutical industry in the production of quality medicines for domestic use. This production was required in order to reduce the high expenditure of importing medicines, to be able to reserve medicines and medical supplies for use within the country and to prevent shortages of medicines and medical supplies during situations of emergency.
The first building to form part of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant consisted of a single-storey and its construction was completed in June 1940; further buildings were later added. The construction was financed from the budget of the Department of Science and a fund for a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant, to a total of 71,324 baht. At the beginning of operations 25 different products were produced and launched. These products comprised 3 items of injections, 7 items of tablets, 9 items of tinctures, 1 item of extract, 1 item of spirit, 3 items of drugs produced from Chaulmoogra oil for the treatment of leprosy and 1 item of vitamin extracted from rice bran.
The Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant operated like a business. Dr. Tua Lophanukrom was the first chairman of the board of directors. He passed away on 27th August 1941 at a time when the plant had only been operational for a period of less than two years. This was a terrible loss for the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant. Nevertheless, and despite the difficult conditions during The Greater East Asia War, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant was able to maintain its operations to alleviate the shortage of medicines for the public, in accordance with Dr. Tua Lophanukrom’s original intentions.
The origins of GPO
In 1959, Phra Bamratnaradun, the Minister of Public Health and the chairman of the board of directors of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant, having evaluated the operations of the plant, appointed a committee to consider how to make improvements to its business administration and academic prowess. The committee took more than 4 years to reach a conclusion, which was that the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant should be merged with the Pharmaceutical Department, in order to increase efficiency and thereby be able to provide the maximum level of value to the government; as well as that the newly merged department (GPO) should become a state enterprise, in order to be flexible in its operations and to be of benefit to society in the future.
Phra Bamratnaradun was the first chairman of the board of directors of GPO, serving from 1966 until 1969 when he vacated the position of Minister of Public Health; however, despite his departure, GPO continued to progress, creating a condition of stability for medicines within the country and being of benefit to government agencies and the public in accordance with the intentions of its founder, Phra Bamratnaradun.
GPO pharmaceutical products and medical devices covering a range of treatments
GPO manufactures pharmaceutical products totaling more than 200 items including tablets, capsules, solutions, syrups, powders and injections. Via collaboration with the government and private sectors, this total rises to more than 300 items, which can be categorized into the following 7 types:
Medicines: Antiretroviral drugs; drugs for specific diseases, emerging diseases and general diseases and over the counter drugs.
2. Biological products: vaccines, serums and antitoxins.
3. Herbal products: medicines developed from herbs, food supplements, cosmetics and extracts.
4. Chemical products: active pharmaceutical ingredients, test kits for testing food safety, drug abuse test kits and pesticide residue test kits.
5. Medical devices: plasters, rubber gloves, elastic bandages and disinfectants.
6. Equipment and medical tools: stents, knee prosthesis, blood pressure monitors and blood glucose monitors, etc.
7. Medicine sets: products convenient to purchase and carry, products suitable to have at home, at work and for group travel.
