Experts discuss Pharmaco-economics and patient access in Vietnam
Sandoz (SIX:SDZ/OTCQX:SDZNY), the global leader in affordable medicines, in collaboration with the Vietnam Medical Association (VMA), convened leading healthcare experts for a roundtable discussion titled “Sharing Experiences in the Application of Pharmaco-Economics in Hospitals”. The event, held on 27 June 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City, brought together leading experts from hospitals, health insurance organisations, academia and professional associations to exchange perspectives on the insightful application of Pharmaco-economics in healthcare decision-making and explore opportunities to strengthen its adoption across Vietnam.
As Vietnam continues to expand healthcare access, with health insurance coverage reaching 95.2% of the population by the end of 2025, healthcare stakeholders are increasingly focused on ensuring that healthcare resources are used efficiently and sustainably. At the same time, out-of-pocket payments still account for around 40% of health expenditure in Vietnam, underscoring the need for evidence-based approaches that can improve affordability while maintaining access to quality care.
Against this evolving healthcare landscape, Pharmaco-economics is playing an increasingly important role in evaluating both the clinical and economic value of healthcare interventions. By informing treatment selection, formulary management and reimbursement policies, it can support better patient outcomes while contributing to the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system.
The roundtable marked the second year of the Pharmaco-economics Initiative, a multi-stakeholder programme aimed at promoting health – economic evidence-based healthcare and supporting broader access to affordable, high-quality treatment options. The initiative focuses on advancing the practical application of Pharmaco-economics in hospitals, supporting healthcare decision-making through data-driven insights, and contributing to healthcare policy development in Vietnam.
The scientific discussions focused on the application of Pharmaco-economics in hospital formulary management, treatment selection, and health insurance budget planning. Experts shared practical experiences from hospitals and healthcare organisations, while also discussing opportunities and challenges in integrating Pharmaco-economic principles into policy development and everyday clinical practice. Discussions also explored how Pharmaco-economics can support more transparent, efficient and sustainable decision-making across the healthcare system.
“In recent years, Vietnam’s healthcare system has faced many opportunities for development but also numerous challenges. The demand for healthcare is increasing, and new, advanced medical techniques are constantly being updated, while healthcare budgets remain limited and need to be managed efficiently,” said MSc., Dr. Tong Thi Song Huong, Secretary General of the Vietnam Medical Association. “In this context, the application of Pharmaco-economics not only helps in drug selection and the development of appropriate drug formularies but also serves as a foundation for developing highly applicable treatment protocols. Forums such as this provide an opportunity for experts, managers and stakeholders to share practical experiences, exchange implementation models, discuss challenges and propose suitable solutions to promote the application of Pharmaco-economics in hospitals.”
The roundtable reinforced the importance of collaboration among healthcare providers, health insurance experts, researchers, professional associations and industry partners in advancing value-based healthcare.
“As the Pharmaco-economics initiative enters its second year, it is important that discussions are translated into practical implementation,” said People’s Physician, Associate Professor, Dr. Le Dinh Thanh, Director of Thong Nhat Hospital. “This includes strengthening Pharmaco-economic capacity within hospitals and supporting evidence-based policy development to help ensure that both patients and the healthcare system benefit in a fair and effective manner.”
“At Sandoz, improving access to high-quality, affordable medicines goes hand in hand with supporting sustainable healthcare systems,” MSc. Nguyen Thien Phuong, Market Access & KAM Lead, Sandoz Vietnam concluded. “Through initiatives such as this, we hope to foster collaboration among policymakers, healthcare providers, researchers and medical experts, helping to advance both the practical application of Pharmaco-economics and evidence-based policy development. We believe biosimilars are a key solution for expanding access to biologic therapies while making more efficient use of healthcare resources. By improving affordability and supporting sustainable healthcare delivery, they can help more patients benefit from effective treatment.”

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