HimVani
Shimla: A report tabled in the Lok Sabha during recent monsoon session by a parliamentary panel has observed that the Center has no roadmap to revive the three state-run vaccine producing plants in the country including CRI Kasauli, Pasteur Institute of India in Coonoor in Kerala and the BCG Vaccine Laboratory in Guindy, Tamil Nadu.
The Parliamentary panel, including Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader from Himachal, Viplove Thakur, observed that every attempt was made to create hurdles so that the process of making the three centers ‘goods manufacturing practices’ compliant continues for long and their vaccine production remains suspended. The report pointed out that prices of vaccines in the country have shot up with the closure of units, as within just two years prices of vaccines have shot up more than double.
Terming the abandoning the production ‘not guided by sound reasoning’, it observed that there is nothing substantial on record on which the decision was taken. The panel said in its report that production at the Pasteur Institute of India in Coonoor is likely to begin in December, but the ministry is silent on allowing the BCG Vaccine Laboratory in Guindy to restart production.
Himachal Pradesh has been demanding revival and modification of CRI.