Diabetes in HCMC: Rx trends reveal market shifts

 01-May-16, mClinica 

To address Vietnam’s growing diabetes epidemic, healthcare organizations must improve access to high-quality treatments. Efforts are needed throughout the country, but Ho Chi Minh City requires special attention.

As Vietnam’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has more diabetics than anywhere else in the country. Incidence of the disease is significantly above the national average. Due to low awareness of the diabetes, many of these patients are undiagnosed. This prevents them from seeking treatment before the disease progresses and leads to serious complications.

Image: mClinica

A notable trend in prescribing patterns is the gradual fragmentation of the market. Last year, the top five hospitals accounted for 29.7% of total diabetes prescriptions in HCMC. In Q1 2016, that share dropped to only 18.7%.

This fragmentation might reflect the growing importance of the private market as a driver of prescriptions for diabetic patients. Several multinational pharmaceutical companies said that recent changes in reimbursement policies are drawing more diabetic patients to private hospitals and clinics.

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