According to Prof Pham Vu Khanh, former head of the traditional medicine department under the Health Ministry, close to a third of all flora in the country or 4,000 plant species could be used for medicine. Yet, the country still had to import as much as 50,000 tonnes of medicinal herbs every year
HANOI: The herbal medicine industry remained largely untapped despite Vietnam’s many favourable conditions, say industry experts and policymakers.
According to Prof Pham Vu Khanh, former head of the traditional medicine department under the Health Ministry, close to a third of all flora in the country or 4,000 plant species could be used for medicine.
Yet, the country still had to import as much as 50,000 tonnes of medicinal herbs every year (80%-85% of medicinal herbs used).
For example, 300 to 400 tonnes of herbs were imported through the Chi Ma International Border Gate in the north alone.
Imported herbs typically fell under two categories: natural-grown and agriculture-cultivated with the majority being the latter.
Cultivated herbs were often affordable but varying in quality and in many instances, neither safe nor suitable for use in medicine production.
Phan Thúy Hien, deputy head of the National Institute of Medical Substances, said the underlying causes of Vietnamese medicinal herbs losing on home turf were lack of economies of scale, poor transport infrastructure and labour-intensive production methods.
All these contributed to high prices compared to competitors.
Except for a handful number of cooperatives that have successfully implemented working production models, the vast majority of production centres were small in size and lack both the ability and the will to employ rigid quality control.
Furthermore, it’s often difficult for local communities to connect with pharmaceutical companies and vice versa.
The Red River Delta traditionally has been a major production centre of medicinal herbs with the Central Highlands in recent years catching up quickly, thanks to its suitable soil and experienced farmers.
According to Prof Le Van Truyen, a former health deputy minister, there was a long documented history of traditional medicine in the country.
Along with modern medicine, herbal medicine has been playing an important part in the health sector.
Herbal medicine also served another purpose, which is bolstering patients’ health foundation on top of providing key nutrients, according to Prof Tran Van On, head of the flora study department of the Hanoi University of Pharmacy. — Viet Nam News/ANN
