[health-vn] Director explains surge in vaccine prices

[Vern Weitzel]

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/Health/2009/03/839155/

Director explains surge in vaccine prices
21:06' 30/03/2009 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge - Vaccine prices have risen due to increased costs of imported 
material for vaccine production and costs to comply with the GMP (Good 
Manufacturing Practice), explained Dr. Nguyen Thu Van, director of Vaccine and 
Bio-Technology Products Co. No. 1, on March 29.

The explanation was given as fresh public concern mounts over an increase in 
some vaccine prices.

Producers have spent hundreds of billions of dong to upgrade assembly lines to 
meet increased legal standards.

The increase of vaccine prices should have been seen in the beginning of 2009 
but were maintained as some distributors stockpiled products.

Dr. Van said that her company is now selling four vaccines, Hepatitis A and B, 
Japanese encephalitis and measles, at higher prices, up by 10-20 percent.

The company had submitted its price increase proposal for the Ministry of 
Health’s approval.

This is the only hike in the year and is only subject to vaccines given outside 
of the Government’s National Expanded Program on Immunization.

As imported vaccines became 5-10 percent more expensive in HCM City, an 
inspection team from the Drug Administration was called to investigate.

The inspectors gave the green light to two importers of 26 vaccines to 
officially increase prices by up to 6.32 percent.

VietNamNet/SGGP