The local healthcare sector only produces very basic equipment, while the majority of advanced healthcare equipment is imported from developed countries, heard a regional forum in Hanoi on November 12.

Leading policymakers, scientists and experts from the Asian healthcare sector joined representatives from the World Bank at the 11th Asia-Pacific Future Trends Forum, titled, “Paving the Path for the Future in Healthcare, Driving Efficiency and Outcomes in a Rapidly Aging Asia,” in Hanoi City on November 12. The two-day event was jointly held by the Vietnam Medical Association and the Switzerland-based Novartis Group.

Addressing the forum, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien said Vietnam is striving to follow the trend of prophylactic medicine in preventive treatment, as well as improving the early detection and timely treatment of diseases.

To that end, the country needs to draw up specific strategies with a thorough understanding of future health patterns, as well as gain support from policymakers, experts and organizations at home and abroad, Tien added.

On Monday, the National Assembly approved the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Some participants also voiced concerns over the competitiveness of the Vietnamese healthcare sector when healthcare equipment imported from other Asian countries competes with domestically made equipment.

However, Nguyen Van Tien, former chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Social Affairs, noted at a press briefing on the sidelines of the forum that the legislative body and the Health Ministry had held various meetings on this issue during the negotiation process of the trade pact.

Tien cited the chief negotiator for the CPTPP as saying that the trade agreement would have no negative effect on the local healthcare sector.

He explained that Vietnam now produces simple products, such as beds, sleeping mats and medical scissors, with modest earnings. Therefore, the country has no other choice but to purchase advanced, costly healthcare equipment from Japan and European countries.

The domestic healthcare equipment market can be regarded as a fertile land for medical and pharmaceutical corporations. Investments in this equipment totaled US$950 million in 2016, and the figure for the following year amounted to US$1.1 billion.

Roeland Roelofs, chief representative of Novartis Group in Vietnam, commented that the country is poised to become a rapidly aging country with an increasing demand for healthcare, especially in the improvement of healthcare quality.

He stated that the forum has offered key solutions to this challenging issue. The application of advanced technologies will help healthcare services reach many parts of society, creating interactions among government agencies and organizations operating in the healthcare sector.

SGT