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The National Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (NICVB), the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and Zuellig Pharma have officially announced a project to expand access to vaccines in Vietnam through the use of eZCooler solution – an innovative packaging technology that ensures the integrity of temperature-sensitive products to the last mile of transportation. The US$600,000 project was launched during a kick-off meeting on 17 April 2019 under the chairmanship of Director Dr. Doan Huu Thien at NICVB.

 

 

Under the agreement, Zuellig Pharma will contribute hundreds of the innovative eZCooler solution, a temperature-controlled packaging technology to maintain product quality during transportation. This will help expand access to vaccines in the country, particularly in remote areas. Zuellig Pharma will also cooperate with NICVB and NIHE to provide training to employees of the Medical Prevention Departments in 6 provinces across Vietnam on  Good Storage Practices for cold chain supply management and usage of the eZCooler solution.

Present at the meeting were Dr. Nguyen Minh Hang, Vice-Director of the Medical Preventive Center at MOH, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Anh, Director of Communications at MOH, Dr. Doan Huu Thien, Director at NICVB, Ms. Beatrice Mallor Maser, Ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam, Mr. John Davison, Chief Executive Officer at Zuellig Pharma, Mr. Yves Hermes, Area Director Southeast Asia at Zuellig Pharma and Mr. Marc Franck, Chief Executive at Zuellig Pharma Vietnam.

 

The project aims to support the Vietnam Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), initiated by the MOH in 1981 with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The nation’s public health program has since benefitted millions of women and children. Ensuring the highest standards of cold chain for vaccines will further contribute to the success of the EPI.

According to the EPI plan, the MOH has goals to improve the proportion of vaccination in areas that are at high risk of outbreaks, and in areas which are geographically difficult to reach, such as remote, mountainous or island areas. In view of this, Zuellig Pharma will contribute eZCooler solution with 3 capacities (8 litre, 12 litre and 96 litre) in 6 northern provinces including Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Ha Giang, Son La and Yen Bai.

Dr. Doan Huu Thien, Director at NICVB shared: “To meet the goal of the EPI, we faced many challenges such as access to local health centers in remote areas, changes in temperature through different seasons and regions, and limited transport systems in remote areas. The importance of maintaining the cold chain to protect the prescribed temperatures during transport is crucial in helping to ensure the integrity and quality of pharmaceuticals as well as patient safety. We highly appreciate the support from Zuellig Pharma Vietnam to share the innovative eZCooler solution to benefit the Vietnamese community. It definitely creates a premise for the sustainable development of the cold chain supply chain in Vietnam”.

Mr. Marc Franck, Chief Executive at Zuellig Pharma Vietnam shared at the launch: “According to Business Monitor International, Vietnam’s healthcare expenditure was estimated at US$16.1 billion in 2017, representing 7.5% of its GDP and the figure will grow at 12.5% a year to $22.7 billion by 2021. Vaccines and cold chain products make up a significant part of this expenditure. Zuellig Pharma is honored to contribute our innovative solutions to this project to ensure that everyone in the country has easy access to vaccines. We have been entrusted by companies around the world to undertake the supply of pharmaceuticals for nearly a hundred years in Asia and 20 years in Vietnam. Today, we are happy to be able to share our expertise and technology with the Vietnamese government and will work closely together with all parties to make healthcare more accessible in the country".