Locals tend to a herbal medicine farm in the northern province of Ha Giang. (Photo: VNA) According to Prof Pham Vu Khanh, former head of the traditional medicinedepartment under the Ministry of Health, close to a third of all flora in thecountry or 4,000 plant species could be used for medicine yet the country stillhad to import as much as 50,000 tonnes of medicinal herbs every year (80-85 percent of medicinal herbs used).
For example, 300-400 tonnes of herbs were imported through the Chi MaInternational Border Gate in the northern province of Lang Son alone. Importedherbs typically fell under two categories: natural-grown andagriculture-cultivated with the majority being the latter.
Cultivated herbs were often affordable but varying in quality and in manyinstances, neither safe nor suitable for use in medicine production.
Dr Phan Thuy Hien, deputy head of the National Institute of Medical Substances,said the underlying causes of Vietnamese medicinal herbs losing on home turfwere lack of economies of scale, poor transport infrastructure and labour-intensiveproduction methods, which all contributed to high prices compared tocompetitors.
Except for a handful number of cooperatives that have successfully implementedworking production models, the vast majority of production centres were smallin size and lack both the ability and the will to employ rigid quality control.Furthermore, it's often difficult for local communities to connect withpharmaceutical companies and vice versa.
The Red River Delta traditionally has been a major production centre ofmedicinal herbs with the Central Highlands in recent years catching up quicklythanks to its suitable soil and experienced farmers.
According to Prof Le Van Truyen, a former health deputy minister, there was along documented history of traditional medicine in the country. Along withmodern medicine, herbal medicine has been playing an important part in thehealth sector.
Herbal medicine also serves another purpose which is bolstering patients'health foundation on top of providing key nutrients, according to Prof Tran VanOn, head of the flora study department of the Hanoi University of Pharmacy.
On said it required a concrete and well-coordinated effort by multipleministries and agencies to help develop the industry.
"We have many policies and lofty objectives yet too few protocols for realstudies and practices," he said.
"Even now we still do not have an official long-term development plan forthe industry," he added.
On said it's difficult to produce medicinal herbs, even those that are nativeand strong in Vietnam if the country continued to rely on imports.
He urged the central government to start the establishment of a supply chainand the implementation of support policies for domestic-grown products. Inaddition, the Ministry of Health must step up efforts to filter out low-qualityherbs and those of dubious origin and invest more in upgrades to traditionalmedicine centres across the country./.
VNA
