Vietnam Clinical Nutrition Market Analysis

Vietnam Clinical Nutrition Market Executive Summary

The Vietnam Clinical Nutrition Market is at around $153.3 Mn in 2023 and is projected to reach $224.1 Mn in 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.57% during the forecast period 2023-2030.

Clinical nutrition is the application of nutrition principles to promote health and prevent disease in individuals, particularly in a healthcare setting. It involves assessing patients' nutritional needs, creating personalized nutrition plans, and implementing evidence-based interventions to improve health outcomes. Clinical nutrition centres on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of nutritional changes in patients linked to chronic diseases and conditions primarily in health care. Clinical in this sense refers to the management of patients, including not only outpatients at clinics and in private practice, but also inpatients in hospitals. It incorporates primarily the scientific fields of nutrition and dietetics. Furthermore, clinical nutrition aims to maintain a healthy energy balance, while also providing sufficient amounts of nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals to patients.

Clinical malnutrition refers to a condition that can be treated with clinical intervention by using specialized nutrients that are considered proper medications rather than as supplements. Clinical nutrition products are useful in maintaining the patient's health and enable the improvement of the body's metabolic system by providing adequate supplements, such as minerals, vitamins, and other supplements. The clinical nutrition sector is undergoing a transformation fuelled by progress in medical research and technology. Key trends such as innovative formulations, personalized nutrition solutions, and the use of bioactive ingredients are emerging. Manufacturers are dedicating resources to R&D to produce products that not only fulfil fundamental nutritional requirements but also provide added health advantages. This emphasis on innovation is fostering competition among industry participants, resulting in a constant flow of new products and therapies tailored to various patient demographics.

Clinical nutritionists or registered dietitians work in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities to, assess patients' nutritional status, develop personalized nutrition plans, provide nutrition education, manage nutrition-related diseases like diabetes, malnutrition etc, support optimal health and well-being. Some areas of focus in clinical nutrition include, critical care nutrition, paediatric nutrition, oncology nutrition, gastrointestinal nutrition, sports nutrition etc.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Vietnam, accounting for around 30% of all deaths. The prevalence of hypertension among adults is around 20-25%. The prevalence of diabetes among adults is estimated to be around 5-6%, though the number of undiagnosed cases is believed to be high. The major drivers of Clinical Nutrition industry in Vietnam are, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and metabolic disorders, aging population, increasing awareness of the importance of nutrition for health, product innovations and technological advancements, government initiatives and rising healthcare expenditure, rising incidence of malnutrition especially in paediatric patients.

The industry is primarily dominated by players such as Danone Nutrition, Vinamilk, Abbott Nutrition, Pfizer Inc, Bayer AG, Nestle, Baxter International Inc Ltd, Mead Johnson & Company, LLC among others.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Vietnam, accounting for around 30% of all deaths. The prevalence of hypertension among adults is around 20-25%. The prevalence of diabetes among adults is estimated to be around 5-6%, though the number of undiagnosed cases is believed to be high. The rising burden of chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes is driving the demand for specialized clinical nutrition products for management and treatment.

Aging Population: Vietnam is experiencing a rapid aging of its population, with the proportion of people aged 60 and above expected to reach 20% by 2040. The growing geriatric population has higher nutritional needs, fuelling the growth of the clinical nutrition market.

Urbanization and Lifestyle Changes: Rapid urbanization and the adoption of unhealthy behaviours such as poor diet, physical inactivity, and smoking are contributing to the rise of chronic diseases. The changing lifestyle patterns are increasing the need for clinical nutrition products to manage and prevent these conditions.

Market Restraints

Limited Access to Healthcare: Many people in Vietnam, especially in rural areas, have limited access to quality healthcare services for the prevention and management of chronic diseases. This can hinder the reach and adoption of clinical nutrition products.

Lack of Awareness: There may be a lack of awareness among the general population regarding the importance of clinical nutrition, especially for managing chronic health conditions, which eventually hinders the market growth rate.

Economic Factors: The high cost of specialized clinical nutrition products can be a barrier to their adoption, especially for lower-income populations. This can limit the affordability and accessibility of these products. Thus, hampering the market growth rate.

Regulatory Landscape and Reimbursement Scenario

Clinical nutrition regulation and reimbursement in Vietnam are managed through a centralized system primarily overseen by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV), a department within the MOH, is the key regulatory body responsible for the management and supervision of medicines, including clinical nutrition products. The Vietnam Food Administration (VFA), also under the MOH, regulates food products, including some nutritional supplements. Clinical nutrition products in Vietnam are generally classified as either pharmaceutical products or food supplements, depending on their composition and intended use. Pharmaceutical-grade nutritional products undergo a more stringent registration process, requiring clinical trial data and comprehensive safety and efficacy evaluations. Food supplements follow a simpler registration process but must still meet specific safety and quality standards. The National Institute of Nutrition plays a crucial advisory role in developing nutrition policies and guidelines.

Reimbursement for clinical nutrition is primarily managed through Vietnam's social health insurance system, administered by Vietnam Social Security (VSS). Coverage for clinical nutrition products varies, with essential nutritional support more likely to be reimbursed, particularly for inpatient care. Outpatient nutritional therapies often have limited coverage, resulting in significant out-of-pocket expenses for patients. Recent developments include efforts to expand the list of reimbursable nutritional products, increased focus on improving nutritional care in hospitals, and initiatives to harmonize regulations with international standards, particularly within the ASEAN region.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

Here are some of the major key players in the Vietnam Clinical Nutrition Market:

• Danone Nutrica
• Vinamilk
• Herbalife Nutrition
• Abbott Nutrition
• Pfizer Inc.
• Bayer AG
• Nestle
• Baxter International Inc.
• Mead Johnson & Company, LLC