QSMI History

• QSMI History
• QSMI Vision
• QSMI Directors

History

      Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute has an interesting and unique history. The death of Momchaoying Banlusirisarn Diskul, caused by rabies in 1911, made one realize the danger of this incurable disease and the necessity of having vaccine against it in Thailand. Rabies Vaccine was not available in Thailand at that time. Her father, HRH Prince Damrong Rajanubharb, the Interior Minister, asked for permission from HM King Vajiravudh to establish a center of vaccine production and vaccination against rabies. With His Majesty’s permission, a building on the royal property at Bamrung Muang Road, near the present Hua Lampong Railway Station, was used as the first center. Medical equipment and facilities needed were purchased by a fund initially donated by the King’ s mother, HM Queen Saovabha and Thai people. This center was officially opened on April 26, 1913 under the name “Pastura Sabha” which was later changed to “Sathan Pasteur” in recognition of Louis Pasteur, the pioneer in rabies vaccine production. With the assistance of the Pasteur Institute of Paris, Dr. Leopold Robert was nominated as director of Sathan Pasteur with a mission to produce vaccines against rabies, smallpox, cholera, typhoid and other infectious diseases. Sathan Pasteur was under the direction of The Ministry of Interior until 1917 when HM King Vajiravudh made the decision to transfer all its activities to the Thai Red Cross Society. Dr. Leopold Robert became the first director of the new organization, named Science Division of the Thai Red Cross Society.

      Following the Royal Cremation Ceremony of HM Queen Saovabha on May 24, 1920. HM King Vajiravudh decided to build a permanent building in her memory to be used for research in medical science. He granted the Thai Red Cross Society a big sum of money and a piece of land at the corner of Henry Dunant and Rama IV Road for the main building and as a permanent headquarter of the Science Division of the Thai Red Cross Society. With a donation from Queen Sawangvadhana and the Thai Red Cross Society’s own budget, two additional buildings were erected on both sides of the main building to facilitate the establishment of a self-sufficient scientific institution.

     HM King Vajiravudh named this scientific institution after his Mother, “QUEEN SAOVABHA MEMORIAL INSTITUTE” and officiated at an official opening with dedication on December 7, 1922. All activities of the Science Division were transferred from the dissolved Sathan Pasteur to this new institute.

Production activities

      Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute produces all products according to GMP, PIC/S and WHO Regulations. GMP certificate of first biological production plant from the Thai Food and Drug Administration was received in 2003. The laboratory was accredited and ISO/IEC 17025 certificate from ilac-MRA, DMSc, Department of Medical Sciences of Public Health was also received since 2005.

Quality Policy

      Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, the Thai Red Cross Society has the policy in assuring that all production and tests for pharmaceutical and biological products produced by the Institute are perfomed with good professional practice. The data generated are precise and accurate

      In achievement of this quality policy, the management of the Institute gives a commitment to ensure the setting up and maintenance of quality system in accordance with ISO/IEC17025:2005, GLP, GMP and other international standards by continuously:-

• Upgrading personnel through training and education for the updated khowledge, Experience and skills appropriate for their work performance.

• Providing necessary resources for the development of quality system to meet the requirements.

• Communicating and building up good understanding and partipation of all staff on quality awareness

• Periodically reviewing of policy and improving quality system to reach the sustainable stage.