In recent years, health services have been identified by multinationals and corporates as areas where super profits can be made. This includes setting up of hospitals, as well as supply of drugs. The Central and state governments have been openly pursuing policies that encourage multinationals to make maximum profits in the arena of health services.

In this context, it does not come as a surprise that three premier Public Sector institutions producing vaccines have had their licenses revoked by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) in January 2008 and they were ordered to suspend their production subsequently. These three units are 103 year old Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh, the 100 year old Pasteur Institute of India (PII), Coonoor and 60 year old BCG Vaccine Laboratory (BCGVL) in Chennai. These institutions have played a pioneering role in the Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) and Universal Programme of Immunisation (UPI) in the country.

The official explanation of the DCGI for the order is that these institutions do not comply with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on GMP (good manufacturing Practice).

At this time, 60% to 70% of immunization requirements within the country are met through lost cost production by these institutions. The question arises as to why the government is not investing in these institutions to ensure that the vaccines they produce are of the highest standards. Why are the WHO standards and practices being used to stop production of vaccines? The aim of the order seems to be to open the field of production of vaccines to Indian and foreign multinationals to reap maximum profits.

People's Voice calls for immediate resumption of production in the three vaccine producing PSUs.