Prices of herbal medicines to be standardised

The supply, price and use of herbal medicines will be tightened by strengthening policies on quality assessment at medical facilities, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has stressed. 

  • Hospital 199 offers free health checkups, medicines and gifts to needy people in Hue
  • Vietnam shares experiences in applying nuclear medicines
A farmer collects herbal plants
A farmer collects herbal plants

Speaking at a recent conference, Tien said that for a long time, prices of medicines in Vietnam have been higher than in other regional countries, putting a huge burden on the social insurance fund.

The difference in prices of traditional herbal medicines reflects the distinguished quality of medicinal plants, according to Tran Van On, head of the Department of Botany under Hanoi University of Pharmacy. Since Vietnam has a rich biodiversity, one herbal species includes different types with various sizes.

“Consumers may buy poor-quality herbal medicines at high prices if we do not set a common standard for these products,” said On.

With the aim of addressing the issue, he recommended the Ministry of Health (MoH) to carry out a comprehensive review of herbal medicines and establish a standard based on quality and types of herbal plants. The standard will help to set prices at drug biddings in the market, benefiting customers.

On the other hand, Nguyen Ta Tinh, head of the Department of Medicines and Medical Supplies under Vietnam Social Security (VSS), told Vietnam News Agency that there was a vast range in prices of herbal medicines. Therefore, in the near future, the agency in collaboration with MoH will evaluate and adjust prices of these products.

“In reality, it is impossible to have a huge difference in prices of herbal medicines supplied by different distributors,” he said.

To avoid wastage of the social insurance fund, VSS and the Department of Traditional Medicine Management under MoH will collaborate to work towards solutions to pricing management. 

Besides, they call for cooperation of Customs and Market Surveillance Agency in checking herbal medicines’ certificates of origin and quality as well as of MoH in post-investigating medical facilities.

According to the Department of Traditional Medicine Management, there is no regulation on price declaration of herbal plants and medicines as they depend heavily on crops and imports. The price range and quality of these products differ among localities.

The department, therefore, sets reference prices of herbal medicines for medical facilities, helping them to approach high qualities of products at reasonable prices.

In 2013, then Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved a plan to develop the herbal medicine sector by 2020, creating a solid foundation for applying high-tech activities to accelerate the industry in Vietnam.

To that point, Vietnamese herbal medicines are expected to be competitive in regional and world markets.

VNA

Other News

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Under the plan, all central and local media outlets are required to launch columns on the campaign, maintain regular coverage, and produce at least five to seven in-depth reports each month in key search areas. Media agencies will also be encouraged to gather and verify valuable information and develop high-quality products in both Vietnamese and foreign languages, including feature articles, documentaries, reports and short videos.

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed confidence that the establishment will serve as a strong spiritual anchor for Vietnamese people living in Japan while contributing to friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

Cyberspace now runs through children’s learning, entertainment, and daily lives, but warned it is laced with dangerous content, online insults, threats, and seemingly harmless clicks that can trigger fraud, data breaches, and risks children who are not yet equipped to handle.

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

A scholar has stressed the need for Vietnam to make use of cooperation opportunities arising from the RoK’s foreign policy, particularly in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, digital transformation, and green energy, as well as chances in multilateral diplomacy.

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

Pham Van Hat is best known as the creator of the made-in-Vietnam “Seed Sowing Robot,” now exported to 15 countries, alongside dozens of practical inventions that have eased labour for thousands of farmers.

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Films, music, television programmes, e-books, video games, journalistic works, images and creative data can now be copied, edited and redistributed within minutes. While copyright violations were once linked mainly to pirated discs or counterfeit books, infringements have shifted online with faster speed, wider scale and greater anonymity.

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Consul General Nguyen Viet Kien stressed President Ho Chi Minh’s reputation and career transcended Vietnam’s borders to inspire liberation movements worldwide, and that his ideas on the right to self-determination, peace, and friendship among nations remain deeply relevant today.

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

To accelerate the implementation of the the Ethnic Affairs Strategy by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, the Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue thoroughly carrying out the Party and State’s policies on ethnic affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of State management and strengthening oversight of policy implementation.

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.