The ultimate goal of the development programme for domestic pharmaceutical industry is to ensure the sufficient supply of medicines at reasonable costs for the people, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at a meeting held in Hanoi on September 21.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)♊ – The ultimate goal ofthe development programme for domestic pharmaceutical industry is to ensure thesufficient supply of medicines at reasonable costs for the people, said Deputy PrimeMinister Vu Duc Dam at a meeting held in Hanoi on September 21.
Damasked the Health Ministry to hold periodic meetings and working sessions withpharmaceutical associations, businesses, ministries and agencies concerned todeal with specific issues, firstly helping amend the Pharmacy Law as soon aspossible. TheMinistry of Health must completely handle the extension of drug registrationwhile amending Circular No.30/2018/TT-BYTpromulgating the list and payment requirements for pharmaceuticalchemicals, biological products, radioactive drugs and those reserved for healthinsurance participants, which should be updated annually or in necessary cases. Inaddition, the Vietnam Social Security must soon submit solutions aimed at dealing withthe late payment for drugs and supplies covered by health insurance.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
Director of the Drug Administration of Vietnam Vu Tuan Cuong saidthe pharmaceutical industry is on track to strong growth with a value of 3.4billion USD in 2015 to 6.92 billion USD in 2021. Domestically-made drugsaccount for 46% of the total. Vietnamis now home to 228 medicine production facilities meeting GMP-WHO standards, 14.3%of them fully automatic while 68% have automatic equipment that mainlyproduce generic medicines. Policiesand regulations have created favourable conditions for pharmaceutical industry,with incentives for investment in the production of hi-tech, treatment, invention,biological medicines, biological vaccines and medicine materials. However, the establishments mostly focus on producing generic medicines because it takes much time,capital and quality workforce to churn out hi-tech, treatment and inventeddrugs. Statistics showed that invented drugs account for only 3% in volume butup to 22% in value. Additionally,price negotiations and biddings for invented drugs remain slow due to the lackof reference information and price comparison. Cuong asked the industry to focus on attractinginvestment in production technology and improving product quality, build researchcentres for vaccines and biological products, develop domestic materials, andimprove the capacity of pharmaceutical research and testing./.
The Health Ministry’s Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) has requested relevant units to ensure no medicine shortage and price hikes to meet demand for COVID-19 prevention and control during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival 2022.
A delegation of Ho Chi Minh City's Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs on June 4 provided free health check-ups and medicines for impoverished overseas Vietnamese and Lao people in Vientiane.
More fraudsters are using online platforms, social networks and messaging services to sell and distribute fake medicines, according to Le Van Truyen, Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Registration of Circulation of Drugs and Medical Ingredients.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has demanded Acting Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan to consult with experts on solutions to handle the current shortages of medicines and medical supplies, thus giving appropriate and timely directions for this issue at medical examination and treatment facilities.
Vietnam is deeply concerned about the escalating and complex conflict in the Middle East, which poses a serious threat to the lives and safety of civilians, as well as to regional and global peace and stability.
The Vietnamese Embassy advises the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Israel to strictly comply with directions from the Home Front Command and local authorities.
Lawmakers are set to vote on revisions and amendments to a broad spectrum of legal frameworks and impactful resolutions during the final week of the 15th NA's 9th session.
The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOVA) has served as a bridge connecting and uniting the community with the homeland, becoming a trusted source of support for Vietnamese expats in times of hardship.
The programme to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses has achieved notable results, with nearly 263,000 housing units addressed to date, including 225,000 houses inaugurated and 38,000 under construction. Thirty-eight provinces and cities across the nation have already fulfilled their targets.
Stronger efforts and determination are required to achieve and surpass the set targets, especially in the eradication of makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide, the acceleration of public investment disbursement, and the implementation of nationally important transport projects, PM Pham Minh Chinh noted.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the event (Photo: VNA) 
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
