Deputy Minister Truong Quoc Cuong receives 150,000 boxes of medicines for non-communicable diseases from AstraZeneca Vietnam Co. (Photo: Ministry of Health)
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong on July 23 received150,000 boxes of medicines worth 62.6 billion VND from AstraZenaca to help treatpatients with non-communicables diseases amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the event, Cuong said Vietnam is facing a rise innon-communicable diseases that account for nearly 70 percent of disease burdenin Vietnamm. Up to 70 people die from non-communicable diseases per 100 ones,including cardiovascular disease 31 percent, cancer 19 percent, chronicobstructive pulmonary disease 6 percent, and diabetes 4 percent.
Patients with non-communicable diseases face a higher risk ofdeath, especially when they are infected with coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, Cuongsaid.
The Health Ministry will distribute AstraZeneca’s medicines tomedical establishments and use them effectively, thus fulfilling goals in thenational strategy on prevention and control of non-communicable diseases forthe 2015-2025 period, he said.
He wished AstraZeneca would ensure the progress of providingVietnam with COVID-19 vaccines as well as other medicines for non-communicablediseases.
Chairman and General Director of the AstraZeneca Vietnam andemerging Asian markets Nitin Kapoor expressed his belief that the activity will patients continue with theirtreatment and mitigate risks caused by underlying diseases./.
