Medicine import increases

As per the figure of market management agencies, only in September, turnover of imported medicine into the country reached around US$1.655 billion, an increase of 11.59 percent compared to the same period last year.

As per the figure of market management agencies, only in September, turnover of imported medicine into the country reached around US$1.655 billion, an increase of 11.59 percent compared to the same period last year.

According to the Ministry of Health’s figure, by December 31, 2014, the country has over 40,000 pharmacies, 121 medicine manufacturers, 61 other producers to make drug materials and nearly 2,000 distributors.

However, 150 exporters buy medicine at large quantity from foreign companies. In ninth months, cost of imported medicines soared by 8.92 percent compared to same period last year. Most of drugs are imported from France with 20.66 percent; German with 11.1 percent and India with 7.6 percent.

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