AstraZeneca pledges further progress for healthcare environment in Vietnam

Since the Vietnamese Youth Physicians Association and AstraZeneca Vietnam launched the Healthcare Innovation Network at the end of 2023, how has the network been operating?

Atul Tandon, general director of AstraZeneca Vietnam

When I look at this particular partnership with the Vietnamese Young Physician Association (VYPA), it has been a fantastic start that we have created the ability to really scale up and be able to create meaningful change.

Together we have been able to bring in real impact by collaborating in new technology for screening and diagnostics, but also implementing it with their support at a large scale. It’s significant that we have been able to provide screening for lung cancer for 100,000 people throughout our community screening programmes.

This year, again, we are talking about scaling it up to almost 350,000 patients across 25 hospitals. And as we are progressing, our screening efforts are increasing multifold. This is because of the kind of execution capability and the kind of focus that VYPA and us have in the same dream of creating health equity in Vietnam.

What strategies is AstraZeneca employing to foster stronger collaborations with government agencies, healthcare providers, and research institutions?

Innovation happens only through collaboration. The important thing is for all stakeholders to come together in this endeavour. There is an effort which is carried out by public-private partnerships, which enables and creates an environment where there can be collaboration.

But at the same time, there are industry associations that come together with their capabilities as well as their knowledge to contribute to development.

Academia has a big role to play because no matter what innovation we talk about, until that innovation has a deep root in scientific evidence in its ability to be taken up at scale, it can be difficult to make a significant impact.

Companies like us are also playing the role of orchestrator, bringing global technology innovations into the country to be able to create some of these solutions, as the whole complexity of healthcare burden is significant.

This requires leapfrog innovation and also adoption of technology, be it in terms of medical device technology for early screening or diagnostics, or the use of AI. They all have a positive role and a contribution to make towards making this a reality.

Fundamentally, it comes down to how well we can collaborate with each other for the same goal of creating a positive impact in healthcare.

As general director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, what is your vision of the market's potential?

I envision a Vietnam healthcare sector at the forefront of innovation and transformation. Given the country’s rapid development, growing population, and increasing demand for quality healthcare services, there’s immense potential for progress.

However, as Vietnam progresses and as the burden of healthcare requirements increase, there is a need for all of us, including innovative businesses, to step up and contribute to health and wellbeing, especially for underserved populations. Fostering partnerships for health, innovation, and transformation will be crucial in the next decade as we strive for sustainable healthcare.

The Vietnamese government has taken significant strides in laying the groundwork for this ambitious vision. The policy initiatives that Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen mentioned at VIR’s conference on health innovation last week exemplify these forward-thinking approaches.

Additionally, we’ve witnessed substantial improvements in infrastructure, with new hospitals emerging and the private sector actively contributing to progress. The increasing use of technology has also played a vital role.

Moving forward, Vietnam’s healthcare sector is poised for significant positive development. The country’s continued focus on investment and commitments to increasing investment in research, innovation, and technology will drive progress towards equitable and sustainable healthcare.

At AstraZeneca, we’ve demonstrated our commitment through initiatives like Azforest, the Health Innovation Network, Young Health programmes, and many more. These initiatives support the overall development of the sector. Beyond delivering life-changing medicines, our ultimate goal is to contribute to a healthcare system that is not only accessible and affordable, but also resilient and sustainable.

We are dedicated to transforming the future of healthcare by unlocking the power of what science can do for people, society, and the planet.

AstraZeneca Vietnam deepens collaboration to enhance education and research AstraZeneca Vietnam is continuing its collaboration with the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Ho Chi Minh City in medical education and science research capacity enhancement.

Empowering innovation for Vietnam's sustainable healthcare VIR plans to host a healthcare conference on September 25, expecting to attract about 200 participants, including policymakers, international organisations, senior experts, and those from the business community.

AstraZeneca reinforces commitment to healthcare Pharma giant AstraZeneca is solidifying its position as a pioneer in healthcare innovation in Vietnam.