Takeda brings advanced healthcare solutions to Vietnamese people

As a healthcare partner in Vietnam for over a decade, Takeda has been deeply involved and brought many advanced prevention and treatment solutions, contributing to improving people's health.

Mr. Dion Warren - General Manager in charge of India - Southeast Asia (I-SEA) region at Takeda

Most recently, Takeda's dengue vaccine was approved, further affirming the Group's long-term commitment to Vietnam.

Mr. Dion Warren, General Manager of India - Southeast Asia (I-SEA) at Takeda, shared about Takeda's development journey in Vietnam, contributions to public health and the company's upcoming plans.

* The I-SEA region's healthcare sector is growing strongly. What is your assessment of Vietnam's healthcare system compared to other countries?

- Compared to many other countries in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is considered a strongly developing country with rapid population growth and industrialization.

This also increases the demand for health care, especially when climate change, infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases increase, putting pressure on the health system as well as burdening people and families in Vietnam.

Although the Vietnamese health system has undergone significant reforms, there are still many needs that need to be met and potentials that need to be exploited regarding health infrastructure.

To fill the gaps and create change, I believe that Vietnam needs to strengthen strategic cooperation at home and abroad, to share experiences, as well as raise public awareness, improve diagnostic capabilities and reduce barriers to patient access to vaccines and basic and advanced medicines.

With extensive experience in the global biopharmaceutical industry, Takeda is committed to collaborating with the Vietnamese healthcare industry, including private and public partners, to address challenges and improve quality of life through innovative and sustainable healthcare solutions.

* In your opinion, what makes Takeda different in the Vietnamese market?

- One of the factors that makes Takeda different is the philosophy of "Takeda-ism" - with core values: Integrity, Fairness, Honesty and Perseverance. These values ​​are applied to all our decisions, with a clear order of priority: Putting patients first, strengthening trust, corporate reputation and sustainable development.

We believe in the power of combining global expertise with local strengths. In Vietnam, we leverage global resources to deliver innovative solutions while working with local partners to meet the healthcare needs of the community.

This enables us to ensure that high-quality medicines and vaccines reach those who need them. We aim to be a trusted pharmaceutical company that creates lasting, positive impacts on people's health through Takeda-ism and sustainable operations.

* Could you please share Takeda's outstanding achievements after more than a decade of operating in Vietnam?

- Takeda is proud to be committed to bringing innovative treatments to the people of Vietnam. We consider improving access to medicines an integral part of our business strategy. At the same time, we believe in public-private partnerships to build a sustainable healthcare system that helps patients access effective treatments.

Since 2021, we have been collaborating with the Ministry of Health , the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and many hospitals in the management of rare diseases. This has brought better diagnostic opportunities for patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) and expanded the scope of treatment at local medical facilities for people with hemophilia.

We also offer plasma therapies for multiple myeloma - and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Mr. Dion Warren (far right) at the Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Rare Diseases between the Ministry of Health and Takeda and other pharmaceutical companies

In addition, as an active member of the Japan Pharmaceutical Industries Association (JPMA) and Pharma Group under EuroCham (Pharmaceutical Subcommittee of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam), Takeda has made efforts to bring vaccines and advanced treatment solutions to Vietnam.

At the same time, it creates conditions for international exchange and cooperation activities between medical communities in Vietnam with Japan and other countries in the region.

The partnership also includes pathologyeducation and community awareness activities to help local healthcare workers and the public better understand diseases and health care options, thereby developing comprehensive care guidelines for patients in the country, improving quality of life.

In May 2024, we reached an important milestone when Takeda’s dengue vaccine was approved by the Ministry of Health. This is a new, sustainable solution that will complement the national dengue prevention and control strategy and protect the health of the Vietnamese people.

In addition to our medical achievements, Takeda also focuses on building a diverse and inclusive working environment. The 2022 "Best Workplace in Asia" award presented by Great Place to Work is a testament to our commitment to investing in human resources and building a working culture that is in line with Vietnam's development spirit.

* Why did Takeda, which is famous for its solutions to treat rare diseases and cancer, invest in developing a dengue vaccine?

- Takeda has 70 years of experience in providing safe, high-quality vaccines to protect public health in Japan. In recent years, we have extended this commitment globally to address serious infectious diseases such as dengue fever, COVID-19 and pandemic influenza.

Dengue is a complex disease that affects nearly half of the world’s population, with severe outbreaks occurring in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. Climate change and urbanization are making dengue more difficult to control, creating significant health and economic burdens.

Among them, preventive measures against dengue fever such as vector control and avoiding mosquito bites are very important. However, WHO recommends that an integrated strategy including surveillance, vector control, public education and vaccination is needed to reduce the burden in the context of an increasingly dangerous epidemic.

The approval of Takeda's dengue vaccine in Vietnam not only marks an important step forward in our efforts, but also contributes to the overall dengue control strategy to protect public health in a sustainable manner.

* To bring dengue fever vaccine closer to Vietnamese people, what is Takeda's strategy?

- Takeda aims to improve public health through the production and delivery of safe and effective dengue vaccines, in order to reduce the global burden caused by the disease.

We have made significant progress in delivering this vaccine to affected areas. To date, our vaccine has been approved in more than 40 countries, including the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Inside Takeda's vaccine factory in Germany

In Vietnam, we are committed to gradually ensuring that the vaccine will be available nationwide in the coming time, including in remote areas and low-income families.

Accordingly, increasing vaccination rates is a top priority in Takeda's infectious disease prevention strategy, especially when dengue fever is causing a huge burden on both the health system and the national economy.

To achieve this goal, we will continue to work with health authorities, universities, research institutes, partners and public and private vaccination centres.

We also aim to raise awareness and education about dengue and the importance of vaccination, support the promotion of more comprehensive and sustainable dengue management strategies, and provide training programs for health workers on safe vaccination practices.

Takeda sincerely thanks the trust and support from partners and the community in the joint effort to improve access to medical solutions, prevent diseases effectively, and enhance the quality of life for the Vietnamese people.

At the end of September 2024, Mr. Dion Warren and Dr. Derek Wallace - President of Global Vaccines, Takeda Pharmaceutical Corporation - Head of the Global Program on Dengue Fever , will visit and work in Vietnam. This is the first high-level visit of Takeda's global leader to Vietnam, continuing Takeda's series of activities and efforts to accompany in the journey to prevent dengue fever.

Accordingly, Mr. Dion Warren and Dr. Derek Wallace will spend time working and supporting the official implementation activities of Takeda's dengue vaccine in the Vietnamese market after the vaccine is licensed for circulation by the Ministry of Health in May 2024.

Currently, Takeda is the sole manufacturer and importer of dengue fever vaccine in Vietnam.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/takeda-mang-den-giai-phap-cham-soc-suc-khoe-tien-tien-cho-nguoi-viet-20240920155525567.htm