Health leaders gather in Ho Chi Minh City to drive herbal medicine innovation

The conference, to discuss the development of herbal medicines, challenges and update advancements, was attended by delegates from many countries and territories, including China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, and the US. Assoc. Prof., Dr. Le Van Truyen, former Deputy Minister of Health, and co-founder of FHH, was also in attendance.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen. Photo: MoH

Since its establishment in 2022, with the goal of promoting public health through improving the quality, safety and effectiveness of herbal medicines, the FHH has played a vital role in national healthcare by harmonising standards, strengthening the regulatory framework, and ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicinal plant-based products.

In his opening speech at the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health, Do Xuan Tuyen, said, "Vietnam has rich and diverse medicinal resources. The ethnic communities of Vietnam vast experience in cultivating and using medicinal plants and animals. With over 5,000 medicinal plant species and indigenous knowledge, Vietnam has a duty to carry out research and create medicinal products to boost socioeconomic development."

Hundreds of Vietnamese and international health professionals and policymakers attended the forum. Photo: MoH

The representative of the Ministry of Health (MoH) also noted that 80 per cent of the population in developing countries use traditional medicine or herbal medicines to care for and protect their health. The demand for herbal products is increasing, raising concerns about quality control, safety, and effectiveness.

"Strict quality control is essential to protect the health and safety of consumers. This requires the cooperation of many countries around the world through learning and exchanging experiences at conferences and forums," said Tuyen.

The event featured three sessions where health professionals and experts exchanged insights on improving global access to safe, effective herbal medicines. Discussions centred on advancing research methodologies, establishing herbal standards, and innovating standardisation techniques to ensure quality and efficacy.

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