19 February 2009
New Delhi, India
In a face saving exercise after it was rapped for discontinuation of vaccine production in public sector units, the Health Ministry announced selective and phased-manner re-starting of vaccine production at the three public sector undertakings, which had been directed to stop production one year ago. Answering questions in the Lok Sabha the Health Ministry said it was first considering the re-starting of vaccine production at Central Research Institute (CRI) in Kasauli. Ministry officials said that Rs 13.8 crore would be granted to CRI to re-start vaccine production.
In a written reply Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said the Expert Committee headed by Drugs Controller General of India had recommended vaccine production in the Pasteur Institute in Coonoor and the BCG Lab would be converted into Central Drugs Laboratory for testing.
“As far as Pasteur Institute is concerned, the committee has recommended production of Tissue Culture Anti Rabies Vaccine and Anti Sera like Anti Snake Venom Serum, Anti Tetanus Serum, Anti Diphtheria Serum, Anti Rabies Serum etc,” the Minister said.
“The Committee also recommended development of the institute as a central testing laboratory for testing of medical devices and centre for training in production of testing of Anti Serum etc,” the Minister added, but did specify any time frame for the re-starting of production at Pasteur Institute.
The Ministry said CRI would produce new vaccines for Yellow Fever and Influenza as per the recommendation of the expert committee.
“As far as BCG Lab is concerned, the committee has recommended conversion to Central Drugs Laboratory for BCG vaccine testing under CRI Kasauli, development as Central Testing Laboratory for testing of cosmetic, expansion and modernisation of the existing Animal House for supply of animal to various research institutes in the country, training centre for BCG production and testing,” said the Ministry to the questions raised by Lok Sabha members SK Kharventhan and Adhalrao Patil Shivajirao.
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