AstraZeneca Vietnam Company Limited and the Vietnam Ministry of Health have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deepen their long-term partnership and strengthen collaboration to comprehensively enhance healthcare for the people of Vietnam. The expanded partnership, to take place from 2023 to 2028, will see comprehensive cooperation between the two parties in the areas of disease prevention and control, pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing, and sustainable health system development.
Today’s signing event was officiated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, Vice Minister of Health, as well as several leaders and representatives of the Ministry of Health. The ceremony was also joined by British Ambassador Iain Frew, Swedish Ambassador Ann Måwe, Mr. Leon Wang, Executive Vice President, International Region, AstraZeneca, Ms. Sylvia Varela, Asia Area Vice President, AstraZeneca, and other representatives of the embassies and AstraZeneca.
Mr. Leon Wang said: “The COVID-19 pandemic as well as climate change has highlighted the importance of protecting and building resilient and sustainable health systems, which is a common goal requiring the cooperation of public-private, intersectoral and multinational partners. Our team here and across the world remain committed to building a sustainable future with Vietnam, and the MOU today is a historic milestone on this meaningful journey.”
Mr. Nitin Kapoor, Chairman and General Director, AstraZeneca Vietnam, also shared: “Following the guidance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at his meeting with AstraZeneca Chief Executive Officer, Sir Pascal Soriot, last May, we are pleased to launch this holistic partnership to start a new chapter in three decades of collaboration between the Ministry of Health and AstraZeneca. We appreciate the continued support of the Ministry and look forward to joining hands to improve patients’ lives and help Vietnam’s health sector become more equal, effective, and globally integrated.”
Holistic partnership for a resilient and healthy Vietnam
Disease prevention and control
Following the MOU, AstraZeneca will advance both ongoing and new programmes, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and healthcare partners, to promote disease awareness, prevention, and early detection. These include: the Healthy Lung Programme to improve the diagnosis and management of asthma, COPD, and lung cancer; Young Health Programme to help youths build a healthy lifestyle and prevent non-communicable diseases; and CAREME programme to transform the cardiovascular-renal-metabolic care ecosystem.
AstraZeneca is working closely with health authorities and partners to bring medicines and vaccines to Vietnam to protect people from COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases. This follows the more than 72 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine that were delivered to Vietnam during the pandemic, helping to prevent over 232,000 deaths by COVID-19 and accelerating the country’s economic recovery.
AstraZeneca’s contributions throughout the pandemic have been recognised with two Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health, as well as a Friendship Medal from the President of Vietnam.
Pharmaceutical research, development, and manufacturing
In addition, AstraZeneca’s 7 trillion VND (310 million USD) investment from 2020 to 2030, which includes 2 trillion VND for technology transfer and local contract manufacturing of medicines, as well as partnerships with various hospitals on clinical research, will help Vietnam to enhance the biopharmaceutical R&D and production capabilities in the country.
AstraZeneca is currently a pharmaceutical industry leader in terms of clinical research in Vietnam, with close to 60 ongoing studies at over 50 hospitals, with the participation of more than 4,000 patients.
Sustainable health system development
AstraZeneca is also cooperating with the World Economic Forum, London School of Economics, and Health Strategy and Policy Institute – Vietnam Ministry of Health, in the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR), to comprehensively reinforce the Vietnamese health system and prepare it for future challenges.
In addition, AstraZeneca has collaborated with the Ministry of Health and the British Government to donate solar power systems to district health facilities, contributing to protecting the environment and providing a stable source of electricity through green energy. In the coming years, the two sides will further strengthen cooperation in this area to help Vietnam reduce the impact of climate change.