Pharmaceutical firm to make herbal drugs

Pharmaceutical company Danapha inaugurated last Saturday an oriental drug production factory in central Da Nang City that it said was the most modern one of its kind in Viet Nam.

Covering an area of more than 10,000sq.m in the Hoa Khanh Industrial Park, the new factory runs an automated production line that goes through all the processes that transform raw materials into finished products while meeting the GMP-WHO (good manufacturing practices as recommended by the World Health Organisation) standards.

With an initial investment of VND60 billion (US$3 million), the factory can turn out 235 million tablets per annum for domestic consumption and export, said Danapha general director Nguyen Quang Tri.

“The factory is expected to produce 60 million tablets worth VND38 billion ($1.9 million) by the end of this year,” he said.

The production facility is part of a larger VND380 billion ($19 million) plan through 2015 under which the company will also develop a research and development centre, another hi-tech pharmaceutical factory and conduct training programmes.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health Cao Minh Quang appreciated Danapha’s efforts to set quality criteria for the 34 basic materials used to produce the oriental medicines as well as its project to develop an area to cultivate medicinal plants.

“Danapha has contributed to the development of our healthcare sector as it integrates into the region and the world,” he said.

Danapha, which is listed on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange as DNP, said it was co-operating with partners to grow medicinal herbs, supporting farmers with seedlings as well as farming and processing techniques. — VNS