By IANS,
New Delhi : Three banned public sector vaccine manufacturing units will be revived, a step that will help the national immunization drive in the country, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Wednesday.
The manufacturing licenses of the three PSUs – the Central Research Institute, Kasauli, the Pasteur Institute of India, Coonoor, and the BCG Vaccine Laboratory, Chennai – were suspended by the Drugs Controller General of India in January 2008 since they were not found in compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
In their absence, vaccine procurement for National Immunization Programme was being carried out from other PSUs and some indigenous private firms on the basis of competitive rates after inviting open tenders.
“The government has decided to revive these units,” Azad said in a written reply in parliament.
The minister said the licenses of these units can be revived and the production of vaccines can be restarted after compliance with GMP requirements.
“The renovation of the new building at CRI, Kasauli to meet GMP norms for manufacture of DPT group of vaccines is in progress. The project is expected to be completed by June 2010. The project reports for revival of BCG Guindy and PII Coonoor are being prepared,” the minister added.