(VOVworld) - A program to persuade Vietnamese people to use domestically produced medicine was launched in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.

Vietnam’s production of medicine should be made in accordance to strict process (Photo: http://chonghanggiavn.vn)

The program marks the 58^th anniversary of Vietnamese Physicians’ Day and responds to the movement calling on Vietnamese to buy made-in-Vietnam goods. Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said the program aims to boost the domestic pharmaceutical industry and called for ‘raising the awareness of the public and medical personnel about using domestic medicine for treatment when domestic drug prices are lower than prices of imported products of equivalent quality.  Giving priority to made-in-Vietnam medicine is a practical way to express patriotism, self- reliance, and national pride. It’s a positive way to practice the teaching of one of Vietnam’s greatest physicians, Tue Tinh: Vietnamese should be treated with Vietnamese medicines.’

Vietnam has about 180 drug producers which adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice standards.