National Institute of Health today organized a Discussion Forum on Indigenous vaccine production. Leading pharmaceutical companies, public and private sector research and academic institution, non-governmental organizations and various Ministries and Divisions participated in the day long discussion forum. Secretary Ministry of National Health Services Muhammad Ayub Sheikh presided.
The forum took stock of vaccine production in Pakistan, local demand both in public and private sector, current routines of meeting these demands by various institutions, the role of private sector in vaccine production and investment in this sector, impediments to such investments and deliberated possible avenues for collaboration between the public and private sector.
It may be recalled that Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) in its meeting had desired to broaden the basis for indigenous vaccine production to meet the national vaccine demands, to ensure vaccine security and to save foreign exchange.
National Institute of Health is a public sector institute for basic vaccine manufacturing in Pakistan. It has basic as well as secondary vaccine manufacture license and has ten registered products which are being produced through basic as well as shared vaccine manufacturing strategies. It is also involved in routine diagnostic and specialized tests with reference to the disease surveillance and control, food and drug testing.
A report of the discussions will be submitted to the Board of Directors of NIH and Planning Division.
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