Vietnam sets up Council for Medical Device Consultancy and Licensing

November 23, 2020 | 10:15

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The Ministry of Health on November 18 announced the establishment of the Council for Consultancy and Licensing of Medical Devices to increase transparency by declaring the licensing information of medical devices.

vietnam sets up council for medical device consultancy and licensing

The Council for Medical Device Consultancy and Licensing held its first meeting

The Council has 17 members, led by former Deputy Minister of Health Le Quang Cuong. The Council is to provide advisory on new licensing, extend the registration numbers of medical devices, and license the imports of medical devices for commercial purposes from May 1, 2021 onward.

This is one of the reforms the Ministry of Health is rolling out to increase satisfaction among people and businesses with the licensing and circulation of medical devices.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long addressing the establishment ceremony

Addressing the establishment, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that the council has an extremely important role. He asked the council to make all efforts to increase the efficiency of the licensing of medical devices in line with the regulations.

After the establishment, the council had the first meeting on the same day.

Vietnam has seen some serious wrongdoings in medical devices purchases with the latest scandal related to alleged illegal profiteering in medical equipment purchases at famous state-run Bach Mai Hospital, triggering public indignation over increased charges and legal loopholes.

In Vietnam, 90 per cent of medical devices are imported. Driven by an average 18 per cent annual growth of investment in medical devices as well as the double-digit growth of the medical devices and diagnostics market, multinational companies are looking to better serve the market through investments in a solid local network of partners, with several representative offices. It has also created opportunities for multinationals to establish local production.