A new official in the rank of joint director from the CRI, Kasauli has been appointed for the BCG Vaccine Lab in Chennai in the capacity of full-time director, it is learnt. Sources from the BCG Lab said the new director would assume charge in the second week of this Month.

After relieving Dr N Elangeswaran, former director of the Lab, against whom a CBI enquiry is reportedly going on now, Dr C D Vinod Kumar, chief medical officer of the Vaccine Unit was given additional charge of director for looking after the day to day affairs of the institute. He said he has received the letter from the health secretary appointing Dr. Somenath Karmarkar as the new director.

R P Chouhan, administrative officer at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), New Delhi, told Pharmabiz that Dr Somenath Karmarkar, joint director at the Central Research Institute, Kasauli, was posted as the new Director of the production- suspended vaccine manufacture lab in Chennai, some time back. But when contacted, Dr Somenath said he is not aware of any change or development in his career.

The manufacturing licence to the BCG vaccine laboratory was cancelled by the ministry on January 15, 2008 following comments by WHO on GMP norms. Later, the health ministry decided to convert the BCG Vaccine Laboratory into a drug testing facility.

Meanwhile, a forum, Save Children Movement, comprising government employees unions and working NGOs in Tamil Nadu has started campaigns to get revoked the order of suspension by the union government. All over the state a signature campaign by the Movement is going on, said Dr Rex Sargunam, president of the Tamil Nadu Health Development Association, which is the main component of the Forum, and Post Cards are being sent to the Prime Minister and the chief minister of the state asking them to take necessary steps to re-start the production. On November 14, the Children's Day, a sit-down strike will be held before the BCG Lab, he said.

M Durai Pandian, general secretary of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, Tami Nadu Unit, which is supporting the movement, said the Union Government is planning to develop a vaccine park in Chennai by closing down the three public sector units, is only to privatize the vaccine sector. He said that the WHO had only suggested some improvements in infrastructure, technical and laboratory facilities of the lab.