Vietnam proposes medical device lifecycle and price transparency reforms

Vietnam's Ministry of Health is proposing new reforms to manage medical devices throughout their entire lifecycle and increase market transparency. The proposal, currently under review by the Ministry of Justice, aims to address information fragmentation by building a synchronized database. This would require owners of circulation numbers to publicly update lists of authorized distributors, improving traceability and safety response capabilities.

The reform also targets price transparency. Currently, price comparisons are difficult due to variations in configurations, software, and technical services. The new policy seeks to address these bottlenecks to better regulate the market, which includes approximately 294,430 items distributed nationwide.

These regulatory efforts coincide with scrutiny of the medical equipment market following investigations into Viet My Medical Investment Joint Stock Company. Authorities are investigating allegations that medical devices were traded through multiple foreign companies to inflate prices before being sold to hospitals.

Data from the General Department of Customs shows a significant surge in the import of CT scanners and radiation equipment in Vietnam, with turnover reaching over $140 million in 2025, a 4.6-fold increase from 2022. Major origins for these imports include Germany, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom.