Health Ministry, Sanofi strengthen cooperation in pharmaceutical industry development

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan on April 3 received a delegation led by Mr Burak Pekmezci, Country Lead of Sanofi-Aventis Vietnam Co., Ltd. The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health’s departments and units, as well as delegates from Sanofi.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan and Mr. Burak Pekmezci – Country Lead of Sanofi-Aventis Vietnam Co., Ltd. took a commemorative photo. Photo: The Ministry of Health

Improvements in need

During the meeting, Mr Pekmezci expressed appreciation for the improvements in Vietnam’s pharmaceutical regulatory environment and acknowledged recent achievements in licensing and renewing marketing authorisations (MAs). He noted that the number of MAs licensed and renewed in the first 11 months of 2024 was equivalent to the total for the previous five years combined.

He also shared that, during a recent meeting with the Prime Minister on March 2, Sanofi had proposed applying a "reliance mechanism" to accelerate access to new medicines in Vietnam.

“We are very pleased to see that the Drug Administration of Vietnam has carefully studied the content of the reliance mechanism and included it in a draft circular amending current drug registration regulations, aligned with regional best practices,” he shared.

“Although the draft continues to be refined, we believe that with the commitment of the Ministry of Health and the openness to feedback, the mechanism will be effectively implemented.”

Regarding drug supply, Mr Pekmezci welcomed the simplification measures in the revised Pharmacy Law and the new draft circular on drug registration, including digital transformation initiatives to streamline dossier processing.

Mr. Burak Pekmezci, Country Lead of Sanofi-Aventis Vietnam Co., Ltd. spoke at the meeting. Photo: The Ministry of Health

“Sanofi is a leader in digital transformation and AI application in pharmaceuticals. We are ready to share our experience with Vietnamese authorities to help ensure digital transformation goes beyond digitisation—applying AI to screen records and support experts in dossier evaluation,” he said.

He also expressed support for the inclusion of the amended Law on Disease Prevention in the National Assembly's 2025 legislative programme, saying it would help the country adopt new preventive health solutions more efficiently.

According to Hoang Minh Duc, Director of the Ministry’s Department of Preventive Medicine, the draft law will be submitted for feedback this year. It proposes the addition of new preventive therapies alongside vaccines to meet evolving public health needs.

Responding to Sanofi’s interest in the health insurance drug list, a ministry representative said the list is under revision and expected to be issued after guiding documents for the amended Law on Health Insurance take effect in July 2025.

Minister Dao Hong Lan shared appreciation for Sanofi’s engagement and contributions to improving policies and institutional frameworks in Vietnam’s health sector.

Five cooperation proposals

At the meeting, Sanofi outlined five proposed areas of collaboration with the Ministry of Health:

1. Capacity building: Training programmes to enhance the evaluation capabilities of experts, particularly in reviewing clinical development guidelines and documentation.

2. Support for rare disease patients: Sanofi highlighted its nearly 30-year commitment to supporting rare disease diagnosis and treatment in Vietnam. Through its ICAP International Humanitarian Medicines Access Programme, the company has provided annual support worth hundreds of billions of VND. Sanofi also signed a MoU in February with the Department of Medical Service Administration and other multinational firms to improve care for rare disease patients. It now proposes further support to the Department of Health Insurance in researching new financial models and sharing global best practices.

3. Vaccine testing cooperation: Sanofi is working with the National Institute for Control of Vaccines and Biologicals on a programme to transfer technology for new vaccine testing methods, share international experience on reliance mechanisms, and train staff on vaccination safety. The company hopes to formalise this with a MoU covering 2025–2027.

4. Preventive health collaboration: Sanofi proposed a strategic partnership with the Department of Disease Prevention to enhance Vietnam’s preventive health system. This would include legal and policy support, promoting lifelong vaccination, and raising public awareness of immunisation. A three-year MoU is also expected to be signed in the second quarter of 2025.

5. Diabetes care: Sanofi is working with the Vietnam Endocrinology - Diabetes Association to support the Department of Medical Service Administration in rolling out the iSTEP-D Plus online diabetes management training programme. In 2025, the programme aims to train 3,600 healthcare professionals in 18 provinces and cities nationwide.

Minister Dao Hong Lan welcomed Sanofi’s initiatives and declared their alignment with the ministry’s priorities. She instructed relevant units to coordinate closely with Sanofi to ensure timely and effective collaboration.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan delivered remarks during a meeting with Mr. Burak Pekmezci – Country Lead of Sanofi-Aventis Vietnam Co., Ltd. Photo: The Ministry of Health

“The Ministry always listens to business feedback and works to resolve challenges, with the ultimate goal of creating the most favourable conditions for companies to operate,” she said.

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