Ministry of Health and State Bank Issue Statements on Drug Prices and Credit
Current data on monetary policies, medical supply procurement, and price controls was shared during the government press conference.
During the regular September government press conference, officials from the Ministry of Health and the State Bank of Vietnam made statements regarding monetary policy, credit management, and the price control of medicines and medical equipment.
Credit and Monetary Policy Developments
Pham Thanh Ha, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, reported that as of September 30, total outstanding credit within the credit institution system reached approximately VND 20.75 million billion.
Officials confirmed that this announced figure represents a 16.69 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Drug and Medical Equipment Price Controls
Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha stated regarding the incident at Viet My Medical Investment Joint Stock Company that the prices of medical equipment and drugs were inflated before being imported into the country.
The Deputy Minister stated that the state does not directly determine the prices of all medical equipment, but rather manages the process according to pricing, procurement, customs, and taxation regulations.
Legal Regulations and New Supply Mechanisms
The Ministry of Health plans to advise the Government on amending the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, including Article 113, during the 2nd session of the National Assembly opening on October 17.
Within this scope, the objectives are to manage medical devices throughout their lifecycle, complete the database, and standardize prices.