Proposal to prioritize drug production in Vietnam

Review and amend laws and perfect institutions

On September 25, Dau Tu Newspaper organized a workshop: “Innovation - the medicine for the development of the pharmaceutical industry”. This is an open forum to discuss solutions and motivations for innovation in the pharmaceutical industry in the new period, helping to sustainably develop the healthcare industry and increase access to high-quality healthcare for people.

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen emphasized that 2024 is a key year for reviewing and amending important laws and regulations that will shape the operations of the medical and pharmaceutical industry in the next decade, contributing to promoting sustainable investment in the healthcare system and creating a favorable ecosystem to promote innovation.

“The key task is to perfect the institutions. In 2024, ministries and branches must review all legal documents to have a synchronous legal system, and managers, businesses, market members, etc. will base on that to organize implementation.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen speaks at the workshop

During the years of this term, the Ministry of Health has identified a large amount of work, including amending and supplementing three core laws: the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, the Law on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance, the Law on Pharmacy, etc. Among them, we must mention the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Pharmacy 2016... The Government will submit it to the National Assembly session this October" - Mr. Tuyen said.

In 2021, the Prime Minister approved Decision 376/QD-TTg on the Program for developing domestically produced pharmaceutical and medicinal materials industry for the period 2030-2045 with the development perspective: attracting foreign investment to produce: patented drugs, specialized drugs, generic drugs with high-tech dosage forms, vaccines, reference biological products, similar biological products....

On October 9, 2023, the Prime Minister approved Decision 1165/QD-TTg on the National Strategy for the Development of the Vietnamese Pharmaceutical Industry to 2030 and Vision to 2045, setting the goal: "Developing the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry on par with advanced countries in the region, improving research capacity and applying available technology to produce generic drugs, drugs with new and modern dosage forms, aiming to become a center for manufacturing/technology transfer of generic drugs in the ASEAN region. Strive to develop the domestic pharmaceutical industry to level 4 according to WHO classification...".

Innovation - the medicine for the development of the pharmaceutical industry

To anticipate many future development opportunities and be ready to receive and attract investment from modern pharmaceutical industries in the world in accordance with the orientation and goals of the pharmaceutical industry, the Ministry of Health is also reviewing and amending the Pharmacy Law.

For the Ministry of Health to submit to the National Assembly for consideration with the orientation of attracting investment in developing technology research and development activities, production or technology transfer to produce pharmaceutical substances, new drugs, original branded drugs, rare drugs, first generic drugs, high-tech drugs, vaccines and biological products, drugs that are products from blood and plasma,... of foreign pharmaceutical corporations in Vietnam. In order to proactively and sustainably develop domestic production while promoting export activities to advanced markets.

Experts share at the workshop.

“Regarding medicines, first of all, there must be raw materials for making medicines, and for pharmaceuticals, Vietnam is importing 80%, but has great potential in terms of raw material areas. Human resources and people in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry are also very ready. According to the revised regulations, we propose priorities for the production of medicines in Vietnam, including priority in granting distribution licenses, priority in the list of issued medicines…

We must promote research and innovation in all areas: in production facilities and production lines, application of technology in clinical trials, especially innovation in the effective use of drugs and biological products..." - Deputy Minister Do Xuan Tuyen emphasized.

With the above goal, the leader of the Ministry of Health said that the workshop opens a series of communication events, connecting and expanding cooperation to promote research and development activities in technology, production or technology transfer for the production of pharmaceutical ingredients, generic drugs, and high-quality drugs in accordance with the strategy and policies of the pharmaceutical industry and the Government on the development of the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry.

This is also an opportunity for the Ministry of Health to learn and receive opinions to perfect institutions, including the pharmaceutical institution to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval (Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the 2016 Pharmacy Law) in October 2024 and guiding documents after the Law is passed.

At the workshop, Editor-in-Chief of Investment Newspaper Le Trong Minh said that to make innovation truly the medicine for sustainable development of the pharmaceutical industry, it still requires the comprehensive resolution of many specific tasks. From continuing to innovate management mechanisms, promoting research, applying science and transferring advanced technology in disease prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment.

Producing high-quality vaccines, medical biological products, and medical equipment to perfect the health care system, mechanisms, and policies based on close adherence to reality, quickly detecting arising problems, and promptly adjusting relevant legal regulations.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/de-xuat-uu-tien-cho-viec-san-xuat-thuoc-tai-viet-nam.html