Vietnam Strengthens Traditional Medicine: A New Era for National Health and Pharmaceutical Industry

Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Thị Thanh Trà has approved a comprehensive implementation plan aimed at developing the country's traditional medicine sector and improving public health. Published under decision number 1250 dated 2026, this plan represents a significant step prepared following critical discussions with the Ministry of Health. The main objective of the plan is to improve citizens' access to healthcare services by integrating Vietnam's deep-rooted medical heritage into the modern healthcare system. Furthermore, this step supports the country's goals of achieving self-sufficiency and reducing external dependence on medical resources. In this regard, the authorities mandate that all public institutions and local governments act in cooperation.

One of the most striking elements of the new plan is the standardization of the combination of traditional and modern medicine across the entire healthcare system. In this integration process, it is aimed to popularize non-pharmacological treatment methods such as acupuncture, massage, pressure point therapy, and nutrition in primary healthcare services. Health authorities aim to achieve equal and standardized implementation nationwide by clarifying the clinical procedures of these methods. The widespread adoption of traditional treatments will offer gentler and more economical options for patients while also reducing the burden on the existing healthcare infrastructure. As a result, Vietnam plans to create a unique model that combines modern healthcare services with traditional practices.

The new strategy is not limited to treatment methods; it also encompasses the cultivation of pharmaceutical plants and the transformation of the pharmaceutical industry into a national strategic sector. Vietnam plans to establish new cultivation areas complying with international quality standards to protect and sustainably develop its valuable medicinal plant resources. By encouraging the cultivation of these plants, especially in mountainous regions inhabited by minority groups, both biodiversity will be preserved and new income sources will be created for local populations. This step also pursues the goal of significantly reducing the country's external dependence in the field of traditional medicine. With the said strategy, it is aimed to develop the entire value chain, from plant diversity to drug processing, within national borders.

Strengthening the legal and institutional infrastructure is also at the center of the plan in the process of carrying tradition into the future. Authorities commit to introducing new technical standards to tighten the quality control of traditional medicines and remove low-quality products from the market. Additionally, it aims to increase human resource capacities in a wide range of areas from education to digital transformation, and to modernize legal legislation. This new strategy, which will be implemented until the year 2030 and includes the 2045 vision, aims to guarantee the long-term growth of the sector. The current decision demonstrates that Vietnam balances both protecting its cultural heritage and taking innovative steps in the field of public health.

The successful implementation of this comprehensive plan will directly affect Vietnam's competitiveness in regional and global healthcare. The country plans to become an export power by transforming its unique medicinal plant species and traditional formulas into high value-added products. Thanks to the necessary policies and institutional reforms, local manufacturers will be supported in branding and standing out in international markets. These solid steps to be taken by the Vietnamese government are expected to provide benefits in a wide range of areas, from rural development to global trade. All these efforts prove that traditional medicine is seen not only as a historical value but also as a strategic economic and scientific resource for modern society.