HANOI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A Vietnamese person is estimated to spend 15.2 U.S. dollars this year from 13.4 dollars last year, local newspaper Youth on Monday quoted the Drug Administration of Vietnam as reporting.

    Vietnam's pharmaceutical market is also predicted to grow 16.5 percent to reach 1.34 billion dollars in 2008. The country produces mainly pharmaceuticals to treat common diseases, and imports most of specialized medicines like anti-viral and anti-cancer ones.

    Many pharmaceutical firms in Vietnam have to import materials for production, according to the administration under the Health Ministry.