Speaking at the event, Cuong said Vietnam is facing a rise in non-communicable diseases that account for nearly 70 percent of disease burden in Vietnamm. Up to 70 people die from non-communicable diseases per 100 ones, including cardiovascular disease 31 percent, cancer 19 percent, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 6 percent, and diabetes 4 percent.

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Deputy Minister Truong Quoc Cuong receives 150,000 boxes of medicines for non-communicable diseases from AstraZeneca Vietnam Co.

Patients with non-communicable diseases face a higher risk of death, especially when they are infected with coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, Cuong said.

The Health Ministry will distribute AstraZeneca’s medicines to medical establishments and use them effectively, thus fulfilling goals in the national strategy on prevention and control of non-communicable diseases for the 2015-2025 period, he said.

He wished AstraZeneca would ensure the progress of providing Vietnam with COVID-19 vaccines as well as other medicines for non-communicable diseases.

Chairman and General Director of the AstraZeneca Vietnam and emerging Asian markets Nitin Kapoor expressed his belief that the activity will patients continue with their treatment and mitigate risks caused by underlying diseases.

Source: VNA