| ASEAN
The big healthcare issues that Malaysia and Singapore need to address ASEAN Today 11th Jan 2017
If a Singapore resident develops a severe disability and needs help with daily activities, such as a nurse or a maid, the government’s ElderShield health coverage provides cash pay-outs of at least SGD 300 (US$ 208) a month for up to 60 months. But those living just across the water in Malaysia suffer a much more difficult fate. Many people today fear not death, but falling seriously ill – it is a luxury they cannot afford. Facilities are being upgraded in Malaysia, but progress is slow Malaysia, unlike Singapore, which has most infrastructures in place, is currently working towards upgrades for its existing facilities and construction of more advanced healthcare complexes with projected completion by 2020. Malaysia’s universal healthcare system is undergoing a structural reform to improve problems such as long waiting times, over consumption and high price differences between the public and private healthcare sectors.
Singapore, Cambodia sign MOUs in healthcare, vocational training Channel NewsAsia 10th Jan 2017
Two memoranda of understanding - one in healthcare and the other in vocational training - were signed on Monday (Jan 9), witnessed by Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Dr Tan is in Cambodia until Jan 11 for a state visit. The agreements inked on Monday include an MOU to renew the working relationship between Singapore's Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and Cambodia's Calmette Hospital. An earlier MOU covered a three-year training collaboration on trauma care and resuscitation from 2014 to 2016. The renewal will include a broader range of training, including intensive care nursing, intensive care medicine and clinical quality for another three years.
Cambodia
NGOs may have stymied government health care: report Phnom Penh Post 25th Jan 2017
A new study examining the development of health care in post-conflict societies suggests that the influx of NGOs in Cambodia may have weakened the government health sector. The report, published last week by BioMed Central, compares Cambodia’s health care development after the fall of the Khmer Rouge to post-conflict health care development in Uganda, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. The study concludes that Cambodia has been more dependent on health NGOs for a longer period of time than the other case studies. While it does acknowledge that “international aid was critical to support the country’s reconstruction”, the study also claims that conflicting agendas “did not help strengthening government stewardship and ownership of health sector development in the post-conflict period”.
Government warns of bird flu Khmer Times 25th Jan 2017
The Ministry of Health has called on all travelers to beware of a new strain of bird flu that is now spreading in South Korea and Japan. In a notice released yesterday, the Health Ministry said the discovery of H5N6, a new strain of the bird flu, led to the slaughter of nearly 20 million birds in South Korea and Japan. China is also dealing with a strain of the bird flu – H7N9 – which has killed 807 people since 2013. There have been no cases of either in Cambodia, but the H5N1 strain did find its way to the kingdom between 2005 and 2014, killing approximately 37 people. The ministry asked travelers to avoid visiting the countries with the strain and bird farms in general. They encouraged everyone to wash their hands with soap as often as possible.
Rise in Deadly Diabetes Hitting Poor the Hardest The Cambodia Daily 6th Jan 2017
Doctors providing critical care services to Cambodians with diabetes and kidney disease are struggling to meet the needs of a growing number of patients who require lifelong treatment for chronic conditions. Hundreds of thousands of Cambodians have diabetes and associated health concerns, according to the latest estimates, and experts say not nearly enough attention or resources are being directed toward prevention and treatment that could save or extend thousands of lives, and reduce pain and discomfort for many more. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 5.9 percent of Cambodians have diabetes, or nearly 900,000 people, according to its 2016 country briefing, including 6.1 percent of women and 5.7 percent of men, while the International Diabetes Foundation reported a prevalence of 2.6 percent in 2015, causing 5,432 deaths that year.
Indonesia
Testing of New Vaccines Still Underway: Ministry of Health Jakarta Globe 23rd Jan 2017
Minister of Health Nila F. Moeloek said that three vaccines which were originally scheduled to be released this year are still being tested for their usefulness and benefits. The Ministry of Health announced earlier that it will implement a vaccination program in 2017 for measles, mumps, and rubella, or MMR; Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus; and human papillomavirus, or HPV. “The cervix cancer vaccine [HPV] is currently being tested in Jakarta, so we’ll see,” Nila said, as quoted by Antara news agency on Tuesday (17/01) in Jakarta.
Malaysia
Healthcare system needs to be better The Star Online 25th Jan 2017
About 20 years ago, there was an outbreak of severe febrile encephalitis among pig farmers in Malaysia. Initially, it was thought to be Japanese encephalitis (JE) despite the fact that its clinical characteristic and epidemiologic features were distinct from JE. That wrong assumption led to an ineffective mosquito control and JE virus vaccination programme to stem the spread. Six months later, the outbreak spread southward to Bukit Pelanduk, Nipah, Negri Sembilan. Sadly, the whole outbreak took nine months to control and resulted in a total of 265 cases of Nipah encephalitis with 105 deaths. It was one of the most severe outbreaks of any disease in Malaysia. Have we learned anything from that episode? Most of the time, our response towards crisis is often reactionary at best, and what makes it worse is a strongly held albeit wrong assumption when confronting the issues, as happened in the Nipah encephalitis outbreak, for example. Our country has made impressive strides in healthcare since independence. For the 2015 World Health Organization 100 core health indicators, we have achieved significant decline in infant, perinatal, neonatal and maternal mortality, and life expectancy of Malaysians is higher. This is an achievement to be proud of but should we not look beyond and modernise our healthcare by further improving in areas such as accessibility, outcomes, range and reach of services, prevention, pharmaceuticals, safety, patients’ rights and information?
Clinics working with health ministry to lower medical costs Free Malaysia Today 22nd Jan 2017
Private healthcare providers are taking the cue from the health ministry towards implementing a bundle system in clinics in order to cut costs for patients. General practitioners, or GPs, are currently in discussion with the ministry to formulate a system to charge according to the severity of the cases and time spent with the patient, The Star reported today. “GPs would adopt a system that ensures fair, transparent and standardised charges with better care and taking into account patient safety. “In this way, simple, moderate and complex cases, would have different rates, respectively,” health ministry deputy director-general Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai told Sunday Star. He added that the bundling of consultation, diagnosis and treatment, would help reduce the overall medical costs. A proposal by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) had called for common ailments to be packaged into bundles to simplify procedures and contain costs.
Hard to convince Malaysians on common health fund, says minister Malay Mail Online 6th Jan 2017
Malaysians must be fully convinced over any national health insurance or fund before Putrajaya can consider implementing such policies, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said today. Speaking to reporters after launching a medical imaging Angio-CT hybrid machine at the Selayang Hospital today, he said a similar proposal in 2012 had ended in fierce backlash from the public. Speaking to reporters after launching an Angio-CT hybrid machine at the Selayang hospital today, he said a similar proposal in 2012 had ended in fierce backlash from the public. He was responding to a Malay Mail Online report in which doctors called for a single payer, multiple provider system to be managed by his ministry to bridge the gap between private and public hospitals.
Doctors moot health insurance overhaul that would open doors to all hospitals Malay Mail Online 4th Jan 2017
Doctors are proposing a countrywide health insurance system that would allow all Malaysians to visit any hospital, private or public, and eventually remove the distinction between the two. They contend that the scheme would alleviate the burden at government hospitals which are being swamped now due to their low costs, while making private hospitals — currently shunned due to their prices — more accessible. The doctors further argue that the proposal could lead to better overall health care services for Malaysians, lower out-of-pocket spending, reduced waiting times and more modern medicines and technology. Additionally, it would also provide patients with greater rights to demand the level of service that they currently may not enjoy at government hospitals. The system would entail a single-payer, multiple-provider arrangement where public and private institutions would functionally be the same to the patient.
Myanmar
Vaccination program targets 193 townships Myanmar Times 25th Jan 2017
The Department of Public Health has announced an elephantiasis vaccination campaign which will cover a large swath of the country from January 20 to 29. The vaccination will be available in 11 states and regions, including 193 townships in 36 districts. All residents two-years-old and older, who are not currently pregnant, and who do not have diabetes or cardiac conditions will be eligible for the inoculation. A specialist in dengue and elephantiasis, deputy director of the Department of Public Health, Dr Zaw Lin yesterday urged everyone to take advantage of door-to-door vaccine service.
Plans to accelerate healthcare services in Naga self-administered zone under discussion Eleven 25th Jan 2017
Plans to speed up healthcare services in Lahe, Layshee and Nanyawn Townships under the control of the Naga self-administered zone have been under discussion, the Ministry of Health and Sports has reported. A work coordination meeting for accelerating healthcare services in the Naga self-administered zone was held at the Ministry of Health and Sports in Nay Pyi Taw on 23rdJanuary. The discussions centred on strategies drawn up to improve public healthcare services in Lahe, Layshee and Nanyawn Townships, short and long term work procedures and special tasks to strengthen healthcare services in the Naga self-administered zone. Ten types of vaccination programmes are being launched in villages from 101 remote townships including three within Naga self-administered zone from November, 2016 to January, 2017.
Doctor fears pollution-caused skin diseases Myanmar Times 20th Jan 2017
More than any other skin complaint, dermatologists in the country say infections drive people to their office. “During my 17 years as a dermatologist, most of the patients I see have infectious skin conditions,” said Dr Myat Sanda Kyaw, a dermatologist and professor at the University of Medicine 2. “The most common of these infections are caused by funguses, like ringworm, a disease we call pwayy.” But Dr Myat Sanda Kyaw said increasingly, she has also seen patients with chemical allergies, an uptick she attributes to an increase in pollution. “With many patients I have seen that their skin is allergic to chemicals,” she told The Myanmar Times after a workshop on beauty and health held earlier this week.
Public Health Enemy Number One Myanmar Times 20th Jan 2017
Myanmar is one of 30 countries in the world with the highest rates of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), according to the World Health Organization. Now, the country’s high rate of tuberculosis infections has spurred the government to introduce a national campaign to fight the disease. The Ministry of Health and Sports intends to implement a National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Control, including programs to speed up diagnosis and treatment of the disease as well as to prevent its outbreak and spread. As part of the anti-TB campaign, a survey to gauge the prevalence of the disease will be conducted in October this year. The head of the National Anti-Tuberculosis Program, Dr Si Thu Aung, stresses that all Myanmar citizens should participate in the campaign as anybody can be infected with TB, which is spread by airborne transmission. Of particular concern to the government is the high incidence of MDR-TB and XDR-TB patients.
Health ministry plans to increase funding for medical research Myanmar Times 13th Jan 2017
State-funded medical research will receive a slight budget boost in the coming financial year with the ministry planning on pooling the windfall into a grant program for the 16 universities with medical research departments, according to the health official heading the research department. U Kyaw Zin Thant, Director General of the Department of Medical Research, said the health ministry is expecting an annual uptick in funding in the upcoming 2017-2018 financial year. The ministry plans on earmarking a larger share of this funding for health research, shifting the allocation from the usual 1 percent, to as much as 2pc of the health budget, he said. “We will share K1 billion out of the medical research department’s budget to establish a research grant. That K1 billion is just for research programs at the 16 medical schools and universities with medical-related programs. Each university will manage the grant and choose what research to fund,” said U Kyaw Zin Thant.
Mon State Self-help Group Leading the Way for People Living with HIV The Irrawaddy 6th Jan 2017
Burma is one of 35 countries that account for 90 percent of new HIV infections worldwide. In the southeast of the country, where migration within Burma and back and forth to Thailand is a part of life, access to services for HIV including testing, treatment and care and support is limited, particularly for those in rural areas or on the move. IOM has been working with the communities and the National AIDS Program to increase access to services for both migrants and host communities. Part of this support includes helping to establish self-help groups like Shwe Nga Lay to empower patients and their families to work together with communities to reduce stigma and provide social supports.
Philippines
Red Cross helps communities prevent water-borne diseases using surveillance mechanism ReliefWeb 25th Jan 2017
The Philippine Red Cross, together with the state health department, and with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), recently rolled out an orientation on the Surveillance in Post Extreme Emergencies and Disaster (SPEED) programme. SPEED is a mechanism activated during emergencies to provide real-time health information to around 65 Red Cross community volunteers in the provinces of Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur and Marinduque.
‘Income inequality high despite robust economy’ The Manila Times 23rd Jan 2017
Income and social inequalities still persist in the country even as the economy shows brisk growth, with out-of-pocket spending for health care remaining a major portion of household expenditure, state-think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said. Given this, the government must expand its health benefit package for households, which should also include non-poor informal workers, PIDS said in a policy note. PIDS said that operationally, out-of-pocket spending, or OOP, is defined as “any direct outlay by households, including gratuities and in-kind payments, to health practitioners and suppliers of pharmaceuticals, therapeutic appliances, and other goods and services whose primary intent is to contribute to the restoration or enhancement of the health status of individuals or population groups. It is a part of private health expenditure. The level of OOP is an important indicator of an effective health-care system, it said.
Duterte orders full implementation of modern family planning by 2018 CNN 11th Jan 2017
President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order providing funds and support for modern family planning, in a bid to make modern family planning available to the poor by 2018. "This Order aims to intensify and accelerate the implementation of critical actions necessary to attain and sustain 'zero unmet need for modern family planning' for all poor households by 2018," reads Executive Order No. 12, signed by Duterte on January 9 and released on Wednesday. Among the strategies outlined in the four-page document is to do a comprehensive review of couples and individuals in need of family planning services. "There is a plan in the next six months for local governments to go out in the field, to do house-to-house visits, identify those in need of family planning, [and work] with all these agencies," National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Ernesto Pernia said in a press briefing Wednesday. Strengthening the Implementation of the Reproductive Health law is part of President Duterte's 10-point socio-economic agenda.
Durterte's war on drugs is fanning the flames of the burgeoning HIV epidemic in the Philippines International Business Times 5th Jan 2017
The Philippines has long remained shielded from the global HIV epidemic, but things have changed in the last decade: the country has one of the fastest-growing HIV transmission rates in the world. According to the latest figures published by Aids/HIV registry of the Philippines, 3,112 people contracted the virus in July-October 2016, representing an average of 26 new cases diagnosed every day. The great majority of these occur through sexual contact among men who have unprotected sex with other men. The country's health authorities have been slow at recognising this and have struggled to deploy appropriate prevention and sexual health education, as a recent Amnesty International report has highlighted. Compared with sexual transmission, infection via drug injection currently represents a relatively minor threat in the Philippines. Over the same period (July-October), only 100 new cases were reported as relating to the sharing of infected needles. But this could soon change. Since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in May 2016 after campaigning on a platform of zero-tolerance against drug pushers and addicts, charities are worried that the number of new HIV cases due to drug injection may explode in the next few years as the government moves away from public health concerns to adopt more repressive policies.
Singapore
MOH to reorganise healthcare system into three integrated clusters Channel NewsAsia 25th Jan 2017
The Ministry of Health (MOH) will reorganise the healthcare system into three integrated clusters, from the existing six regional health systems. In a media release on Wednesday (Jan 18), MOH said this will better meet Singaporeans’ future healthcare needs. Singapore’s public healthcare system is currently organised into six regional health systems: Alexandra Health System, Eastern Health Alliance, Jurong Health Services, National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and Singapore Health Services. With the reorganisation, the six regional health systems will be merged into the following three clusters: In line with the three new clusters, the polyclinics will also be re-organised into three groups: NHG Polyclinics, SingHealth Polyclinics and the new National University Polyclinics. This is up from the current two groups. The reorganisation is expected to be completed by early 2018, said MOH.
Singapore government is developing a national action plan to tackle the antibiotic resistance menace Biotechin.Asia 3rd Jan 2017
In May 2015, a global action plan to tackle the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines was endorsed at the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly at WHO. One of the key objectives of the plan was to improve awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance through effective communication, education and training. The World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2016 was celebrated worldwide from 14-20 November 2016 to meet these objectives. In line with these recommendations, Singapore government is currently developing a national action plan to tackle the issue of antibiotic resistance. Speaking to The Straits Times, the Ministry of Health (MOH) told that it is working in conjunction with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), the National Environment Agency and the National University of Singapore (NUS) to develop a nationwide strategy for antimicrobial resistance in Singapore. It is likely that awareness campaigns, educating the masses about the illnesses which require antibiotics and regulating their usage, will be the key points.
On high alert for bugs from abroad TODAY 3rd Jan 2017
It was a year in which infectious diseases — namely Zika and tuberculosis (TB) — claimed the spotlight. And the threat is set to stay and might even intensify as Singapore continues to see large numbers of people and goods flow in and out of its borders, say experts. While Singapore is now better equipped with hardware to tackle various infectious diseases, its health system will continue to be tested more frequently, as recent events have shown. And this calls for the ability to be flexible and to respond in a nimble way, the experts said.
Thailand
Scholars laud dengue vaccine trial Bangkok Post 20th Jan 2017
A new dengue vaccine markedly helps reduce the chance of people being infected with the virus, research by Mahidol University suggests. The vaccine, called Dengvaxia, is able to reduce the chance of someone contracting the virus by 65%, reduce the chance of hospital admissions by 80% and prevent complications by 73%. Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, Prof Emeritus Arunee Sabchareon, of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, the research team's head, the vaccine has proven most effective in people aged nine to 45 years old. She said the vaccine could give immunity for at least five to six years. The disease has social and economic impacts so the vaccine may be worth it, added Dr Arunee.
FDA calls for drug firms to declare costs Bangkok Post 19th Jan 2017
Efficient drug price controls should be strictly enforced to reduce overpricing caused by the dominant market position enjoyed by some drug companies, which impedes public access to medicine, a seminar has been told. Siriwat Tiptaradol, former secretary of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), suggested the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) strictly enforce price control measures, with pharmaceutical companies told to declare details of the cost of each drug manufactured. He was speaking at a seminar on "10 years of compulsory licence implementation and access to essential medicines" on Tuesday in Bangkok. If the cost is declared, the DIT can consider whether the selling price is reasonable, said Dr Siriwat, adding the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) should be able to provide experts to help analyse whether a declaration of manufacturing costs of each drug is valid. A patent for a new drug will protect an innovator's right to be the only manufacturer for 20 years. The monopoly often results in higher prices, Dr Siriwat said. However, compulsory licensing (CL) is still necessary in some cases, he added. CL comes into play when a government legally issues a licence over expensive medicine protected by patents. CL is often used in cases of emergency. The licence will enable the country to temporarily import generic copies of drugs or manufacture the generics, according to the seminar. Chalermsak Kittitrakul, an officer with the Aids Access Foundation, suggested a revision of the intellectual property system to make drugs more accessible.
Drug producers urged to update to meet global standards Bangkok Post 4th Jan 2017
Thai pharmaceutical companies have been urged to update their formulas and re-register them to help the industry reach international standards and improve exports. Chernporn Tengamnuay, chairman of the pharmaceutical industry club of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said global public health standards have improved, resulting in the banning of some ingredients in original formulas by some countries. The club is urging drug producers to update their formulas and have them tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the Public Health Ministry to ensure standards are met. Mr Chernporn said there are around 300 drug companies. Half of them have adjusted their formulas and re-registered with the Thai authority, but around 150 have not, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises.
Taiwan pact backs Thai medical ICT Bangkok Post 4th Jan 2017
Taiwanese authorities have reached an agreement with the Thai government to support the development of local information and communication technology (ICT) in agriculture and biotechnology. The accord would bring significant economic opportunities for both countries, Taiwan's Science and Technology Minister Yang Hung-Duen told the Bangkok Post during a recent visit to Thailand. Mr Yang said ICT can play an enabling role in the advance of high-end medical devices and products, preventive medicine and telemedicine through the use of biochips. Taiwanese chipmakers such as Delta, Qisda, BenQ and Foxconn can supply these biochips to Thailand. "We're ready to set up operation and manufacturing plants in Thailand if we get attractive investment incentives," he said. The import duty rate for importing medical equipment into Thailand is 15%.
CP Group eyes healthcare arena The Nation 20th Jan 2017
Charoen Pokphand Group is looking into a foray into the healthcare and medical-centre businesses, with the focus on expatriates and other foreigners as potential customers. True Corp chief executive officer Suphachai Chearavanon said yesterday that CP had studied the possibility of entering those arenas and potential partnerships, but he declined to elaborate. CP Group is the parent of True. A CP source said the group’s interest in such businesses was is in line with the government’s policy to turn Thailand into an international medical hub. The CP businesses would focus on foreign customers, the source confirmed.
Vietnam
New health insurance system prevents fraud Viet Nam News 25th Jan 2017
The health insurance medical information system, rolled out last June, is the optimal solution to ensure transparency and prevent insurance fraud. This consensus of opinion was evident among Government officials at a conference by the Việt Nam Social Security agency on Monday to announce its review on implementation of the health insurance medical information assessment system. According to reports delivered by Phạm Lương Sơn, Deputy Director General of the VSS, 99.5 per cent of medical facilities nationwide have been linked to the health insurance medical information assessment system since its launch, except for 65 commune-level health stations in remote areas without electricity access. The health insurance medical information assessment system received some 68.9 million dossiers requesting insurance payments worth VNĐ35 trillion (US$1.55 billion) in the last six months of 2016, and another three million requesting insurance payments of VNĐ2 trillion ($88.6 million) in the first month of 2017, the report said.
MoH enhances administrative reform in 2016 Viet Nam News 25th Jan 2017
The Ministry of Health has managed to simplify the majority of its administrative procedures, which has contributed to increased satisfaction of people using its services. In 2016, the ministry simplified 221 out of 225 administrative procedures, accounting for 98.2 per cent of the total. As many as 37 online administrative services have been improved. Online signatures for online administrative service software have been applied widely, so that businesses are able to get results online. The ministry has completed its connection with the Governmental offices in receiving and sending online documents. All legal documents have been publicized on the ministry’s portal websites. Since June, the ministry has managed to apply a one-door customs policy for cosmetics and medicine imports, which has shortened the procedures to between four and five days. The ministry’s satisfaction index of administrative reform has been improved, ranking eighth among 19 ministries. The position in 2015 was 17th out of 19. This has contributed to the satisfaction of people using its services. A survey by the Health Strategy and Policy Institute in December among four central hospitals has shown positive results. As many as 66 per cent of patients said they were satisfied with services at Cancer Hospital. The percentage was 84 at the Central Endocrine Hospital, 92.2 at the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Hospital, and 93.1 at the E Hospital.
Cell therapy: A new hope for cancer patients Viet Nam News 25th Jan 2017
he Hà Nội Medical University is acquiring immune cell therapy know-how from Japanese experts to treat cancer patients. University Vice President Professor Tạ Thành Văn said that this advanced treatment has been used in a number of medical centres in Japan for several years now and has proved its worth. Three years ago, the Japanese government officially recognized cell therapy as a cancer treatment by enacting regenerative medicine legislation. Cell therapy, also known as cytotherapy, introduces beneficial cellular materials into a patient.
PM urges drastic measure to manage antibiotic use Viet Nam News 25th Jan 2017
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has asked the Ministry of Health to inspect the implementation of regulations in antibiotic prescription and use in medical facilities. The PM assigned the ministry to seek measures to effectively monitor the performance of the regulations and strictly handle violations. He also requested the ministries of agriculture and rural development, industry and trade, and natural resources and environment to assess the effectiveness of the national action plan on preventing antibiotic resistance for the 2013-2020 period and apply measures to enhance its efficacy. The Ministry of Health has been tasked with inspecting pharmacies’ observation of regulations on selling prescription medicines and taking measures to manage the enforcement of the rules, particularly focusing on antibiotics.
Vietnam ranks 78th in cancer prevalence: hospital Tuoi Tre News 23rd Jan 2017
Vietnam now ranks 78th out of 172 countries surveyed in terms of new cancer patients, according to a recent report by the National Cancer Hospital. For every 100,000 people in Vietnam, 140 people are diagnosed with cancer, compared to the world average of 182 new cancer cases per 100,000 people, the report said. The statistic places Vietnam on a list of group-3 countries, those with new cancer diagnoses of between 135 and 178 per 100,000 people. Significantly, the report identified cancer as being more common amongst Vietnamese men than women, with 173 out of 100,000 men diagnosed with cancer compared to 118 for every 100,000 women. According to the National Cancer Hospital, the disease is more common in developed countries, though there has been noticeable growth in new cancer cases in poorer countries. The economic burden of six of the most common cancer types in Vietnam – liver, breast, cervical, colorectal, oral, and stomach cancer – is estimated to cost the country over US$1 billion a year, health officials said last year.
VN, USA team up for food safety Viet Nam News 20th Jan 2017
The High Quality Việt Nam Products Business Association, the American Chamber of Commerce in Việt Nam and the Washington-based Global Food Safety Forum on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding on co-operation in food safety. Herb Cochran, AmCham executive director, called food safety an issue of concern in both Việt Nam and the US. “The first objective of the MOU is to help Vietnamese companies join global food supply chains under the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) International Food Safety Capacity Building Plan,” he said. The US imports 15 per cent of its food, 20 per cent of vegetables, 50 per cent of fruit and 80 per cent of seafood. The US Congress requires that the “FDA develop an International Food Safety Capacity Plan to help foreign and food industries that export food to the US.” The US FDA will provide “training of foreign governments and food producers on US requirements for safe food. To reach our objective, we will arrange delegation visits to the US and Việt Nam, workshop and town hall meetings, websites in English and Vietnamese, Internet-based training programmes targeting company managers, technicians, and official representatives from safety regulatory agencies, special on-site training at Vietnamese companies.”
Việt Nam expected to produce mixed vaccines in coming years Viet Nam News 4th Jan 2017
Việt Nam is expected to produce six-in-one vaccines in 2017 or 2018 and by 2020 these will be used widely in the country, according to the health ministry. Việt Nam already manufactures 11 out of 12 vaccines used in the nationwide expanded free immunisation programme for children, including vaccines against tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, measles, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, Japanese meningitis B, cholera, typhoid and rubella. In November 2016, Viêt Nam announced the successful production of a measles-rubella vaccine (MR) for the first time.
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