India may have been taking a pride in being a major producer and exporter of vaccines, but at home it might not be able to provide DPT, TT and Hepatisis B vaccines to lakhs of infants because of shortage of vaccine under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
launched in 1985, the programme targets nearly 2.7 crore infants and 3 crore pregnant women across the country. Under the programme, shots of vaccines DTP (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Pertussis), Measles and Tetanus are administered to make them immunised from many fatal diseases.
However, impending shortage of supply of the vaccines because of poor interest from the private players and inability of the Public Sector Units (PSUs) to chip in to meet the need is leaving the officials a worried lot. “Current need is being met through buffer stock and the situation may turn grim by March 2014 when all the stock will be exhausted,” a senior official from the Health Ministry said.
He pointed out that tenders issued twice in last six months for supply of the three vaccines have received with dismal response from the private pharmaceuticals that are either quoting higher prices or ignoring the local needs as they eye the lucrative export market. The official said, “The Ministry had floated tender twice in last six months. In the first tender we had sought 1,100 lakh doses of TT vaccine but we got supply of 600 lakh doses. Similarly in the second tender we got response for 200 lakh doses of vaccine against our demand of 500 lakh doses.”
Similar was the situation with the DPT vaccines. “Against demand for 1,500 lakh doses, we were assured supply of 1000 lakh doses in the first tender while the second tender for 500 lakh doses has no takers. We have decided to issue the tender third time soon,” said the official. Incidentally, approximately 43 per cent of global vaccine supply is provided by Indian manufacturers, primarily from the private sector but they seem to be least interested in the national immunisation programme. However, health security of children in India is under threat.
“What’s bad is that the private players are keener to take advantage of the present crisis and quoting higher prices. It will certainly shoot up the cost of the programme. The Ministry has been holding a series of meeting with them urging them to keep the prices at lower level keeping in mind the national interest,” said the official. But, they are yet to respond to the national cause, he added.