Vietnam imported medicines worth 2 billion USD last year, reflecting ayear-on-year increase of 8.3 percent, chinhphu.vn website reports.

Accordingto the Vietnam Industry and Trade Information Centre, Vietnam importedmedicines from 30 markets last year. Of these, medicines from India hadthe biggest market share at 13.1 percent, equivalent to 267 million USD,and growing by 7.75 percent from 2013.

France was ranked second, accounting for 11.7 percent with its import turnover of 239.4 million USD.

Germany was ranked third, with its share of 189.1 million USD and its share expanded by 28.27 percent.

Theimport markets reported a 70 percent positive growth rate, with 20percent of the markets reflecting an import turnover of over 100 millionUSD.

Meanwhile, the prices of 656 products were increased, the Finance Ministry's Price Management Department stated.

Of these, 84 imported medicines and 572 domestic products saw their prices being re-registered.

Datafrom the Drug Administration of Vietnam on the Cost, Insurance andFreight price, showed that even though medicine prices of mainproviders, including India, Korea, France and German varied, the numberof products for which prices were modified was not large.

Stablemedicine prices were attributed an ample supply source, tight managementof agencies and competitive pressure in the medicine market.

The prices of imported and domestic medicine products are forecast to remain stable during the first quarter of 2015.-VNA