Vietnam Ministry of Health and Novartis form partnership for health

The Novartis portfolio in Vietnam includes innovative pharmaceuticals, high-quality generics from Sandoz, and cutting-edge eye care solutions from Alcon.

Tran Thi Giang Huong, director general of International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Health and Stefan Stroppel, global head of Novartis Pharma Services AG, signed the MoU on October 10 in Hanoi.

The MoU focuses on four areas: science-based innovation and clinical trials, scientific and academic cooperation, quality and local manufacturing, and patient access to high quality, innovative healthcare.

“Novartis is privileged to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to support a strong healthcare system that covers the lowest income segments of the population, and to provide the Vietnamese people with high-quality medicines,” said Joe Jimenez, CEO of Novartis AG.

“Novartis is committed to broadening our public-private partnership in Vietnam. The company fully supports the Ministry of Health’s objective to shape a strong, sustainable healthcare system and to achieve universal healthcare coverage,” said Philippe de Pougnadoresse, chief representative of the Novartis Pharma Services AG representative office in Vietnam.

“The Swiss Embassy in Vietnam is pleased with this groundbreaking partnership for health between the Ministry of Health and Novartis, as it further strengthens the longstanding and cordial relations between Vietnam and Switzerland,” said Andrej Motyl, Swiss ambassador to Vietnam.

The MoU between the MoH and Novartis Pharma Services AG is aligned with the pledge by the member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations during the recently concluded 12^th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting in Hanoi.

In a joint statement, the member countries pledged greater healthcare cooperation with a vision of “a healthy, caring and sustainable ASEAN community”.

The joint statement commits to extend cooperation in various fields, including strengthening the health system and access to healthcare, among others.

Novartis offers a diversified portfolio of innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, over-the-counter and animal health products to address the evolving needs of patients and societies.

Novartis group of companies employ approximately 135,000 full-time-equivalent associates and sell products in more than 150 countries around the world.