“According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), innovation in healthcare is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, especially in the digital sector. Advances in technologies such as AI, gene editing and VR are transforming disease detection and treatment, transforming the global healthcare industry,” VIR editor-in-chief Le Trong Minh said at the conference.
“In Vietnam, medical innovation has improved diagnostic and treatment capabilities and promoted advances in medical research and pharmaceutical production, significantly improving the health and quality of life of millions of Vietnamese. However, to ensure innovation and sustainability in the healthcare industry, Vietnam needs to promote research and development and technology transfer in disease prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment. This entails the production of medicines, vaccines, biological products and high-quality medical devices. The country also needs to perfect health policies in line with reality, as well as quickly adjust relevant legal regulations to address emerging issues.”
To achieve this goal, it is essential to keep up with key global trends, learn best practices from developed countries and gain insights from relevant stakeholders, which is especially important as Vietnam is finalizing the legal framework for its healthcare industry to enter a new stage of development, he added.
Atul Tandon, General Director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, said: “We appreciate Vietnam’s efforts to drive innovation and development in the healthcare industry. Over the past few years, the country has witnessed innovation in healthcare infrastructure, private healthcare and technology applications. Encouraged by Vietnam’s future, we are committed to investing in innovation and technology, as well as leading several healthcare initiatives for youth. AstraZeneca is committed to transforming the future of healthcare, unlocking the power of what science can do for people, society and the planet.”
He further pointed out that AstraZeneca is at the forefront of clinical research in the science and medicine value chain. So far, AstraZeneca has built many laboratories to improve diagnostic capabilities, which can be replicated from Vietnam to other countries in Asia. The company follows patients’ progress with a patient-centric approach and stays with them from screening to diagnosis to treatment, contributing to the development of sustainable healthcare.
Dion Warren, Head, Takeda India and Southeast Asia, said, “Over the past decade, we have been focused on fostering public-private partnerships to expand access to innovative medicines and vaccines in Vietnam. Since 2021, we have signed MoUs with partners to share technologies and methodologies to improve diagnostic outcomes. We have also partnered with the Ministry of Health in 2023 to raise disease awareness, strengthen diagnostic capacity and improve patient access to quality healthcare.”
Takeda is making a significant contribution to dengue control in Vietnam. According to the WHO, Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest growing dengue burden. To help reduce the burden, the company is partnering with local authorities and other organizations to promote dengue prevention. In particular, Takeda’s dengue vaccine provides an effective tool in Vietnam’s overall dengue control strategy, Warren added.
Radhika Bhalla, Head of Vietnam and Asia Alliance Market, said, “Viatris Vietnam has a broad and diversified portfolio covering multiple therapeutic areas to address a wide range of health conditions. This includes cardiovascular diseases benefiting over 336,000 patients, pain management affecting 1.3 million patients, mental health management affecting 403,000 patients, infectious disease treatment impacting 70,000 patients and men’s health solutions reaching 47,000 patients.”
“We also continue our efforts to bring localised products to the market through technology transfer of our original off-patent products. We will continue to expand our portfolio to give patients better access to quality medicines and expand treatment options for the Vietnamese people. We believe that better access leads to better health, and this includes access to quality medicines made in Vietnam, with a balance between global, regional and local supply for Viatris,” she said.
Fostering innovation for sustainable healthcare in Vietnam
VIR is scheduled to host a healthcare conference on September 25th, which is expected to attract around 200 participants, including policy makers, international organizations, senior experts and business stakeholders.
Takeda’s 10-year history of medical services in Vietnam
For over a decade, Takeda has been a committed healthcare partner to Vietnam, delivering innovative treatments and adding great value to public health. The recent approval of its dengue vaccine further strengthens this commitment. Dion Warren, Takeda’s Regional Head for India and Southeast Asia, spoke to VIR’s Bich Thuy about the company’s journey and plans to bring more innovative medicines to Vietnam.
Foreign-led groups take the lead in the medical field
Vietnam’s healthcare sector is developing rapidly as the country looks to modernize its system and improve the health outcomes of its population. Contributing to this transformation are foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs), who are playing a key role in driving healthcare innovation across areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology and digital healthcare solutions.
