On November 6, the Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Management (Ministry of Health) held a press conference to announce information about the 2nd National Fair of Medicinal Herbs, Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Products in 2024 (VIETRAMED EXPO 2024).

Information at the press conference said that currently, our country has over 5000 medicinal plant species with effects and uses for health care and protection. This is a very rich resource, however, we have not yet maximized the use of this resource.

Medicinal herbs in our country are being used to make medicines, food and cosmetics. In particular, medicinal herbs used for health care purposes are mainly based on people's habits, many people even use medicinal herbs incorrectly, use them for the wrong purposes, causing negative effects on health.

At the press conference, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen The Thinh, Director of the Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Management (Ministry of Health) said that in order to implement the Government's policy on encouraging, supporting, giving incentives, investing, preserving, developing, and promoting the potential strengths of Vietnamese medicinal herbs and medicinal products; promoting economic development, ensuring social security and further improving the quality of health care for the people, the Department of Traditional Medicine and Pharmacy Management (Ministry of Health) coordinated with relevant units to organize the 2nd National Fair of Medicinal Herbs, Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Products in 2024.

The fair gathered 425 booths of more than 300 organizations, businesses, production and trading establishments of medicinal herbs, traditional medicine, medicinal herb cultivation facilities, health care equipment, smart medicine, clean rooms, traditional medicine hospitals, and domestic and international Oriental Medicine Associations.

This is an important trade promotion activity to support localities, industry associations, enterprises cultivating - exploiting - processing - trading medicinal herbs, establishments producing traditional medicines and medicinal herb products, traditional medicine hospitals... to meet, exchange experiences, strengthen trade connections to develop the market for medicinal herbs, traditional medicine and medicinal herb products.

At the same time, encourage organizations and businesses to increase learning, joint ventures, investment in production development and development of value chains of high-quality medicinal products.

According to the Organizing Committee, during the Fair, activities will take place such as: Workshop "Application of traditional medicine achievements in treatment and health care"; Workshop "Development of Vietnamese medicinal herbs in the 4.0 period"; Conference on connecting trade to develop medicinal herb growing areas, medicinal herb products in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; B2B trade activities, introducing new technologies and products of industry associations and businesses.

In addition, providing knowledge and ways to distinguish between medicinal herbs and traditional medicines; Introducing regional, local medicinal products; Exchange and consultation programs on legal policies, support mechanisms for establishments, individuals starting businesses as well as small and medium enterprises; experiencing medicinal products displayed at the Fair; introducing, promoting, consulting, free medical examination and knowledge about medicinal herbs and traditional medicines.

The fair will be a reliable place to buy medicinal herbs and traditional medicines, serving the health care needs of people in Ho Chi Minh City and localities nationwide.

Along with that, we need to further propagate, promote and introduce clean, safe and quality medicinal products to consumers, raise the sense of responsibility of businesses and people towards safety and health issues in the process of production, processing, preservation, consumption and use of medicinal products, traditional medicines, etc., contributing to further improving the quality of health care for the people.

The fair takes place from November 21-23, 2024 at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) 799 Nguyen Van Linh, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.