Vietnam is the second biggest Artemisinin producer around the world, heard an international conference on medicines against malaria held in Hanoi on Nov 2. China ranks the first in making the drug. China and Vietnam provide up to 70% of the raw material for Artemisinin processing while East Africa supplies nearly 20%. Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen emphasized the importance of the seminar, saying it took place at a time when anti-malarial drug resistance rates are comparatively high in nations worldwide. She hoped that the seminar is expected to bring out an assessment and action plan related to researching and producing Artemisinin as well as solutions to drug resistance. In Vietnam, the number of deaths caused by malaria in 2010 reduced by 40% compared to the 2006 figure thanks to a successful national program on malaria prevention and control in the 2006-2010 period. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a VND1.67 trillion ($79.9 million) national strategy on malaria prevention by 2020, with further development by 2030, under which it aims to eliminate the disease by 2030. (vovnews.vn Nov 2, vietnamplus.vn Nov 2)
