Vietnam wishes to increase cooperation with Switzerland in the fields of pharmaceuticals manufacturing and technology transfer, health Minister Dao Hong Lan told Swiss Ambsssador Thomas Gass at a reception in Hanoi on December 7, VOV reported.

Receiving the diplomat, Lan lauded the effective cooperation between the two countries in various areas, including health care. Notably, Switzerland provided Vietnam with emergency aid, comprising 30 oxygen ventilators, 500,000 antigen test kits and 300,000 respiratory masks totaling CHF 4.66 million (USD 5.3 million) during the height of the pandemic.

An overview of the working session in Hanoi on December 7 between health Minister Dao Hong Lan and Swiss Ambassador Thomas Gass. Photo: Ministry of Health

Health Minister Dao Hong Lan informed the diplomat that the ministry has approved the aid to support the diagnosis, treatment and care of people with leprosy, people with psoriasis and the aid to support people with leprosy and psoriasis, as well as provide training to doctors and medical staff in Dien Bien, Hoa Binh, Lang Son, Quang Nam, Dak Lak provinces by the Vietnam - Switzerland Anti-Leprosy Association, providing aid to the Central Dermatology Hospital with a total aid capital of more than USD 60,000.

In recent times, the relationship between Vietnam and Switzerland has mainly focused on the pharmaceutical sector. According to a report by the Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry, it has issued circulation registration licenses for many medicinal products of Swiss manufacturing facilities.

As the potential for medical cooperation remains huge, the Health Minister proposed that Swiss pharmaceutical firms transfer technology to produce patented drugs, vaccines and biological products that Vietnam cannot yet produce.

She also proposed that the Swiss side support the Drug Administration of Vietnam in the form of training and strengthen the capacity of GMP (good manufacturing practices) inspectors.

Swiss Ambassador Thomas Gass. Photo: Ministry of Health

Lan said Vietnam is amending the Pharmacy Law and it is encouraging foreign businesses, including Swiss firms, to give opinions regarding their engagement in drug distribution, drug registration and drug registration licensing, among other issues of their concern.

She expressed her belief that future cooperation between Vietnam and Switzerland would continue to reap substantial results, contributing to the development of bilateral relations, especially in the fields of health, and protection and care of people’s health.

Ambassador Gass for his part said he would personally urge pharmaceutical firms to give their opinions on issues of major concern.

He also affirmed that he would make efforts to promote the cooperative relationship between the two sides in general and the health sector in particular.

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