Question : PRODUCTION FACILITIES FOR VACCINES

(a): whether India is strong in view of microbiology, bio-chemistry and immunology;

(b) whether it is also a fact that India are importing most of the vaccines for typhoid, meningitis and chicken pox etc;

(c) if so, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the All India Biotech Association has urged the Government to create opportunities for establishing basic production facilities for vaccines, antibiotics and diagnostics to save the foreign exchange; and

(e) if so, the response of the Government thereto?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI S. B. MOOKHERJEE)

(a): There are a number of institutes, both under the Department of Health and Ministry of Science and Technology, involved in the medical/non-medical research in these subjects, e.g., National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, International Centre of Genetic Engineering Biotechnology, Delhi, Bharat Immunologicals & Biologicals Corp. Ltd. and Centre for Cellular and molecular Biology, Hyderabad etc.

(b) & (c) At present vaccines against various communicable diseases like Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Tuberculosis, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis, Yellow Fever, Anti Snake Venom and conventional typhoid and cholera are being produced in the country. However, Typhoid, Meningitis and Chicken-pox vaccines are being imported in India, as there are no production facilities available at present. Besides some quantity of J.E. and Yellow Fever vaccines are also being imported to meet the immediate requirement.

(d) & (e) The Vaccine Production Board constituted by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under the Directorate General of Health Services reviews and assesses from time to time the requirements of various vaccines of major importance to recommend the feasibility of introducing new vaccines.