Myanmar is coordinating plans to export about 5,000 ampoules of anti-venom in the current 2018-2019 fiscal year while efforts are being made to produce up to 200,000 or 300,000 ampoules yearly depending on local and foreign demand, said Khin Maung Cho, Union Minister for Industry.
The information came after Lower House MP Khin Cho questioned about the situation of snake bites in the country in at least five years and export of anti-venom produced by BPI.
"Apart from domestic demand, anti-venom surpluses will be exported to foreign countries. In 2017-2018 fiscal year, 500 ampoules of anti-venom were exported on a trial basis to Cambodia and Laos. We are also coordinating plans to export about 5,000 ampoules in 2018-2019 FY," said the minister.
Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) has arranged for individuals or organizations to be able to buy anti-venoms easily. In 2016-2017 FY, 100,000 ampoules of anti-venom were produced. Plans are now being made to produce 200,000 to 300,000 ampoules every year depending on local and foreign demand.
Before 2016, Pharmaceutical Factory (Insein) could not produce enough anti-venom to meet domestic demand due to the lack of technology and raw materials and high death rate of horses.
According to official data, over 1,500 horses died in producing 171,500 ampoules of anti-venom from 2011-2012 FY to 2014-2015 FY; 57 horses died in producing 112,444 ampoules in 2017-2018 FY; and only four horses died in producing 53,000 ampoules in 2018.
