Vietnam Grapples with 100 Rare Diseases, Affecting 6M People
Vietnam has grappled with 100 rare diseases, affecting six million individuals, with 58% of cases occurring in children and 30% resulting in fatalities before the age of five, local media reported.
These findings were announced during a scientific symposium titled "Enhancing Rare Disease Management in Vietnam," organized by the Ministry of Health and the Vietnam Medical Association in Hanoi on February 29.
Highlighting rare diseases as a global medical challenge, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan stated that improving the management and treatment of rare diseases is a crucial goal to ensure equitable healthcare for all citizens. He added that Vietnam has participated in a joint declaration at the seventh APEC High-Level Meeting on Health and Economy, establishing an APEC initiative on rare diseases to address diagnostic and treatment challenges.
Some experts pointed out that while some advanced treatments exist worldwide for certain rare genetic diseases, these treatments have not yet been approved for use in Vietnam. Additionally, despite the availability of treatments, patients often struggle to access them due to lack of insurance coverage.
Addressing the issue of rare diseases and enhancing their management requires comprehensive involvement from the political and social systems as these issues demand significant resources and collaboration from multiple stakeholders, Mr. Thuan added.
During the symposium, the Ministry of Health’s Department of Medical Service Administration and its partners inked deals to improve the quality of management and treatment of rare diseases in Vietnam.