NEW DELHI:
The ministry of health and family welfare is likely to tell firms that they can export a maximum of 30% of the anti-rabies vaccines they produce.
The health ministry is considering a move to restrict the export of anti-rabies vaccines following concerns over dwindling supplies. India accounts for 36% of rabies deaths in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has set a target of eliminating rabies from South-East Asia by 2020.
The ministry of health and family welfare is likely to tell firms that they can export a maximum of 30% of the anti-rabies vaccines they produce, according to two people aware of the matter. Indian firms supply rabies vaccine to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Turkey and some African nations, among others. The government also plans to ask states to bring the vaccine under the list of essential medicines to ensure its availability in adequate quantity and assured quality.
“It is important to regulate the export of the vaccine along with all other measures that can be taken at the state level to ensure its uninterrupted supply in the healthcare system,” said one of the persons mentioned above.
In India, companies such as the Serum Institute of India, Indian Immunologicals Limited, Zydus Cadila, and Bharat Biotech manufacture anti rabies vaccines.
The health ministry held a meeting with the manufacturers on 1 April after several states, including West Bengal and Delhi informed the Union ministry of acute shortage of the vaccine. “There has been a shortage in many states. The issue was flagged by the states. It has also been seen that the companies are not participating in domestic tenders as manufacturers prefer to export it as they could get a better price abroad,” said the second person.
Another meeting was held by the directorate general of health services on 3 April with the manufacturers, who have been asked to prioritise the supply to the domestic market before exporting the vaccine. The vaccine is available domestically for Rs 250, while the same dose costs $30 abroad. “Companies don’t participate in tenders here as there is a lot of ambiguity,” said a senior executive in a company manufacturing rabies vaccine.
“We are concerned about the situation. We are examining various options to regulate the supply of the vaccine. The shortage stems from unregulated export. The short term crisis is being taken care of as the companies have agreed to supply the vaccine without any further delay,” said a senior health ministry official.
