AstraZeneca supports Vietnam’s journey towards a sustainable and equitable health system
Over the years, guided by a vision of building a sustainable and equitable health system, AstraZeneca has collaborated with the Ministry of Health and domestic partners to implement many initiatives on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), from lung health and chronic disease management to clinical research and policy support, to expand access to healthcare services for the Vietnamese people.
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Vietnam is entering a period of rapid population ageing while also facing the growing impact of climate change and air pollution on public health. These factors increase both the risk and severity of NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and various cancers. Many of these conditions are being detected at younger ages among people of working age and have become leading causes of morbidity and mortality.
National statistics reveal that NCDs contribute over 70% of all deaths in Vietnam, with 41.5% occurring before the age of 70. The NCD burden is not only high in terms of morbidity and mortality but also complex to manage, as many patients are diagnosed at a late stage, reducing treatment effectiveness and increasing healthcare costs. At the same time, clear gaps remain in access to screening, diagnosis, and treatment services between levels of care and between urban areas and rural, mountainous, and remote regions.
In this context, Viet Nam needs to build a sustainable and equitable health system that ensures all people can access essential services without facing financial hardship. This calls for stronger primary and preventive care, better management of chronic diseases at the grassroots level, investment in research and innovation, and the expansion of effective public-private partnerships. This approach underpins AstraZeneca’s collaboration with Vietnam’s health sector, aiming to help reduce the burden of NCDs and move closer to the goal of universal health coverage.
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| CEO of AstraZeneca had a meeting with the Vietnamese government. |
Long-term partnership with Vietnam’s health sector
Since establishing its presence in Vietnam in 1994, AstraZeneca has become a strategic partner of the Ministry of Health and many hospitals and medical universities across the country. In early 2023, the Ministry of Health and AstraZeneca Vietnam signed a five-year strategic cooperation agreement focusing on research and development (R&D), support for pharmaceutical production, disease prevention and control, and strengthening the sustainability of the health system.
Simultaneously, AstraZeneca has committed to investment through to 2030, with priorities including reducing the burden of disease, improving access to healthcare, enhancing domestic research and manufacturing capacity, and developing the health workforce. Part of this investment is allocated to clinical trials in oncology, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases, enabling patients in Vietnam to gain earlier access to innovative therapies while supporting hospitals and research centres to build their clinical research capabilities.
Strengthening NCD management with a focus on lung health
In response to the heavy burden of chronic respiratory diseases and lung cancer, AstraZeneca has worked with the Ministry of Health and specialist institutions to implement programmes designed to improve screening, diagnosis, and disease management. The “Healthy Lung” and “Love Your Lungs” programmes aim to raise public awareness of COPD, asthma, and lung cancer, by organising community-based screenings and supporting follow-up and treatment at the primary care level, thereby facilitating earlier detection and long-term management.
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| Over the years, AstraZeneca Vietnam has collaborated closely with the healthcare sector to comprehensively enhance the care journey for lung cancer patients, as exemplified by the "Lung Love" campaign launched in 2023. |
On 26 March 2025, AstraZeneca Vietnam joined the Ministry of Health in organising a consultative seminar on the development of the “Vietnam Lung Health Programme 2025-2027”. The programme aims to strengthen screening, early detection, and improve the quality of diagnosis, treatment, and management of COPD, asthma, and lung cancer nationwide. At the seminar, Atul Tandon, Country President of AstraZeneca Vietnam, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to continuing to support scientific and innovative initiatives aimed at advancing sustainable respiratory care and reducing the burden on patients and the healthcare system.
Innovation and strengthening health system capacity
Beyond respiratory health, AstraZeneca is implementing initiatives that support the comprehensive management of NCDs. The “CAREME - Love Yourself” programme is a digital health initiative that supports the early detection, diagnosis, and management of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease at the community level, helping to improve screening rates and long-term follow-up for these chronic conditions.
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| “CAREME - Love Yourself” program, a digital transformation initiative supporting early detection, diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic kidney disease in the community. |
In oncology, AstraZeneca collaborates with the Bright Future Fund and specialist cancer hospitals to deliver programmes that raise awareness, provide comprehensive care, and manage treatment-related side effects, with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for patients.
Promoting sustainable health policy and comprehensive healthcare access
Alongside its patient-focused programmes, AstraZeneca also supports the development of health policy aimed at creating a more sustainable and efficient healthcare system. In August 2024, the company collaborated with the Health Strategy and Policy Institute, under the Ministry of Health, to organise a policy dialogue on the use of health technology assessment (HTA) in reimbursement decisions for cancer medicines, helping to promote the use of scientific evidence in budget allocation and expand access to modern treatments.
At the community level, AstraZeneca partners with the Ministry of Health, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, and the Vietnam Young Physicians Association in the initiative “Comprehensive Healthcare Access - For a Healthy Vietnam”, which brings health consultations, screening, and care services to remote areas and vulnerable groups, helping to narrow gaps in access to care.
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| The initiative "Comprehensive Healthcare Access - For a Healthy Vietnam" is being accompanied by AstraZeneca, the Ministry of Health, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Young Physicians Association. |
Through its specialised programmes, clinical research activities, policy support, and community projects, AstraZeneca has demonstrated a long-term commitment to working alongside Vietnam in strengthening the health system and improving the quality of care, contributing to the development of a more sustainable and equitable health system.
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