Vietnam Medi-Pharm, an international exhibition on medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, kicked off in Hanoi on May 21.

Up to 200 domestic and more than 100 foreign firms are exhibiting their latest hi-tech medicinal products and services.

Products on display range from pharmaceuticals, medicine, physiotherapy and orthopaedic services as well as health care and insurance companies.

The four-day event also includes seminars on the country’s health care system and forecasts on the demand for medicines and medical equipment until 2010.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Xuyen said Vietnam’s pharmaceutical market has been stable and medical equipment has effectively improved healthcare for people.

Up to 2007, about 800 businesses, including 370 foreign companies, have registered to operate in Vietnam’s pharmaceutical industry. The Republic of Korea, India and France have the largest number of registered businesses.

Last year, the value of locally-produced medicines was 600 million USD, supplying 53 percent of domestic consumption, a year-on-year increase of 16.5 percent.

The pharmaceutical sector plans to boost production to meet 60 percent of domestic demand by 2010 and 70 percent by 2015.

Source: VNA