The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “Public sector must play bigger role in vaccine production”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“Public sector must play bigger role in vaccine production”

Special Correspondent

Udhagamandalam: Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss inaugurated the yearlong centenary celebrations of the Pasteur Institute of India at Coonoor on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the ‘vaccine park,’ planned on 50 acres at Chengalpattu, would help the Pasteur Institute expand its activities. Four-fifths of the vaccines required for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation was being sourced from India. And 80 per cent of the demand was being met by private companies.

He hoped the public sector would play a bigger role in vaccine production. For vaccine production, there would be no funds constraint.

Dr. Ramadoss said avian flu was now a cause for major concern. It was now being spread by birds. “Before it begins moving from man to man, we should be prepared.”

Pasteur Institute Director N. Elangeswaran said that between May 2005 and now, the institute’s production jumped by one hundred per cent. The revenue stood at Rs. 30.13 crore. Products in the pipeline include combi-vaccine and liquid rabies vaccine for humans and liquid rabies vaccine for canines.

The accine park would feature facilities for making bacterial and viral vaccines, quality control laboratories and a research and development wing.

Dr. Ramadoss unveiled a bronze statue of the Father of Microbiology Louis Pasteur and declared open a centenary hall, a quality control laboratory and a quadruple vaccine laboratory.

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