Swiss pharma group Novartis AG has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam’s Ministry of Health, which aims to increase local people’s access to essential generic drugs that they can afford. The MoU covers the invention cooperation based on science and clinical tests, management of pharmaceuticals, drug quality and domestic production, the Lao Dong newspaper reported. It also helps improve the public’s access to advanced health services, it added. Up to 1.8 million people in remote areas of 17 cities and provinces across Vietnam are expected to benefit from the MoU. Generic drug is defined as a drug product that is comparable to a brand/reference list drug product in dosage form, strength, quality and performance characteristics, and intended use. (VnExpress Oct 22, VOV Oct 22)
