Vietnam, Switzerland Seek to Promote Health Cooperation

Vietnamese Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan and Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass have met in Hanoi to discuss measures to further promote bilateral health cooperation, local media reported.

At the meeting on April 25, Minister Lan said that bilateral health cooperation has focused mainly on the pharmaceutical sector, with many Swiss medicines being highly valued in Vietnam.

She suggested the Swiss ambassador boost bilateral cooperation in the transfer of manufacturing technology of patented drugs, vaccines, medical biological products, and drugs that Vietnam has not yet produced.

She added that both countries could increase cooperation on training medical professionals and managers, population and development, food safety, response to climate change, and many others.

She announced that a delegation from the Ministry of Health’s Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) would visit Switzerland in late May to learn about experiences in building the amended Law on Pharmacy. She also hoped to receive support from the Swiss ambassador to join the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 21-30.

Ambassador Thomas Gass stated that Switzerland is willing to expand cooperation with Vietnam in the health sector. He agreed with Minister Lan on measures to enhance bilateral health cooperation.  (Suc Khoe Doi Song)