3:26:34 PM | 7/8/2005
The Ministry of Health did not agree with foreign pharmaceutical producers to increase drug prices, according to Dr Cao Minh Quang, Head of Pharmaceutical Management Department.
The department suggested pharmaceutical companies review all possible measures to stabilize medicine prices.
The department also brought out three specific measures, including thoroughly limiting unnecessary expenditures, cutting intermediate distribution steps to stabilize imported medicine prices and create suitable retail prices and strictly controlling the situation of doctors and healthcare providers receiving money from patients especially the poor.
Since early this year, around 12 foreign pharmaceutical firms have proposed to adjust drug prices but their reasons were not convincing such as exchange rate changes between USD, Euro and VND, increased material prices, high production costs and rising consumption prices in Vietnam.
The department asked these firms to give specific explanations for price increases and it will consider each case and then respond to them, Minh said.
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