Biovac, a supplement product of Nha Trang Vaccine and Biological Production Company. The company is one of three vaccine producers to be equitised this year. — Photo Khue Viet Truong

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The Ministry of Health has asked the Prime Minister to approve its equitisation plan for three vaccine companies this year.

The three companies are the Nha Trang Vaccine and Biological Production Company, the Da Lat Pasteur Vaccine Company and the Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No1.

Speaking at the conference to review the re-arrangement of the Health Ministry's State-owned enterprises held in Ha Noi on October 21, Deputy Head of Pharmacy Management Department Nguyen Tat Dat said that the proposal was made after the ministry carried out a comprehensive survey of vaccine production units. The survey has revealed that vaccine productivity has fallen and the businesses need capital to expand production.

The Ministry of Health has eight enterprises with self-contained businesses, including the Vietnam Pharmaceutical Corporation and the Vietnam Medical Equipment Corporation, and 26 businesses that have State capital of more than VND3.2 trillion (US$152.38 million).

The ministry has been implementing the equitisation of 11 businesses that are fully funded by State capital, including the Vietnam Medical Equipment Corporation and central pharmaceutical companies No1, No2 and No3. — VNS