VietNamNet Bridge - The pharmaceutical industry is expected to see big changes this year thanks to investments from both Vietnamese and foreign companies.

Vietnamese youth, who account for 60 percent of the total population, are a promising market for health and beauty products. The industry has an average growth rate of 30 percent per annum. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Pharmaceutical companies are hiring retail chains to distribute their products, rather than develop distribution networks of their own.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam and China are considered the two biggest rhino horn consumers in the world. 

Decree 54 and the draft circular that guides its implementation compiled by the Ministry of Health have both raised controversy: foreign investors say the regulations break Vietnam’s WTO commitments.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s organ transplantation technique is now on equal footing with developed countries, experts say.

They are pioneers in studying rare diseases and disseminating knowledge in the community. They do not work for money and have no interest in receiving honors.

VietNamNet Bridge - After seven years of research, a female Vietnamese scientist has discovered a new transmitter to help prevent Alzheimer’s.

Only one hospital in Vietnam was equipped with surgical robots in 2014, but the figure had increased to four by the end of 2017.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam is now an attractive drug market with new policies designed to create a healthy, competitive market for manufacturers.

Giant retailers who have been eyeing the drug retail market for years have finally joined the game with ambitious plans to remap the market.

The ministries will compile a law on genetic source conservation which covers issues related to the development of genetic sources, knowledge about medicinal herbs and intellectual protection for remedies using traditional medicinal herbs.

The ineffectiveness of public water supply facilities, climate change, damage from typhoons and floods, and the lack of professionalism of local authorities have all caused shortages of clean water.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnamese drug market, valued at $5.2 billion, is attracting more foreign investors and multinationals.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) estimates that Vietnam has to remit $2 billion abroad to import foreign drugs but could retain more money in-country if it could attract FDI into the pharmaceutical industry.

Hospitals have spent tens of billions of dong to buy expensive medical equipment, but  have not made adequate investment in human resources to use the machines in an effective way.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnamese drug and medical instrument market is expected to have value estimated to exceed $10 billion per annum by 2020.

VietNamNet Bridge - Currently, Vietnam can only produce single vaccines with medium-level technology, while products can meet just 50 percent of demand. 

To develop precise medicine, Vietnam not only needs fundamental factors such as a workforce, equipment, professional knowledge, and big data about genomes, but also changes in policy.

With limited manufacturing capability, Vietnam has to import 55 percent of drugs it needs every year.