Domestically-produced drugs aim to reach 75% of demand by 2025

This target is included in a programme aimed at developing the domestically-produced pharmaceutical sector by 2030, with a vision towards 2045, as adopted by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The overall goal of the scheme is to get the domestic pharmaceutical industry to a high level of development and reach level four according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification scale. With a market value within the top three of ASEAN, this will contribute to ensuring the adequate and timely supply of drugs which are quality, safe, effective, and affordable.

The nation will continue developing pharmaceutical materials and products from domestic pharmaceutical sources into high-quality and high-value commodity items which can be competitive in both domestic and international markets.

Furthermore, the county will also build eight areas for the sustainable exploitation of natural medicinal herbs and between two and five large-scale medicinal herb cultivation areas.

Each exploiting area or growing area will feature one or two chains linking research, cultivation, processing, and production of medicinal plants in line with the guidelines set out on good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) for medicinal plants of the WHO (GACP-WHO).

Moreover, the country is destined to become a regional centre for high-value pharmaceutical production by 2030, with the export value of domestically-produced drugs raking in approximately US$1 billion.

Some of the major tasks and solutions of the scheme will focus on institutional solutions, law, investment, how to become more competitive in the market, science and technology, along with human resources and training. This is in addition to gaining a better knowledge of the drug and pharmaceutical market, greater co-operation and international integration, and the promotion of information and communication.