Vietnam to Import US$710Mln Medicines This Year
The world’s 14th most populous nation of Vietnam is estimated to spend US$710 million on medicine imports this year, up 10 per cent on-year, said the Vietnam Pharmaceutical Management Department.
Meanwhile the total value of locally-made drugs will reach US$460 million, an on-year increase of 17 per cent, said Director Cao Minh Quang.
Vietnam's per capita medicine consumption in 2006 is expected to increase to US$11.23, up 14 per cent on-year, raising the country’s total drug consumption value to US$960 million, up 17 per cent on-year.
In the past nine months of the year, the country imported US$396 million worth of medicines, up 26.7 per cent on-year, while its drug production value reached US$331.8 million, up 15 per cent on-year.
Currently, imported medicines account for 65 per cent of the domestic consumption annually. Antibiotic medicines make up 30 per cent of the total demand for pharmaceutical products.
The country aims to raise its drug production capacity to meet 60 per cent of local demand by 2010 and 80 per cent by 2015.
Vietnam Economic Times
Vietnamese
