The scientists and staff members of the major public sector DPT vaccine manufacturing unit, Pasteur Institute of India (PII), Coonoor, have sought the intervention of the Prime Minister to restart the production of the century old institute.

Members representing the staff union along with K Subbarayan, Member of Parliament from Coimbatore met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and requested his help in the matter. Whida Nizam, a woman trade union leader from the AITUC also accompanied the group.

The members informed the PM of the plight of the other two units which were also served closure notice along with PII, Coonoor.

Pasteur Institute of India Coonoor, BCGVaccine Lab, Chennai and Central Research Institute, Kasauli were producing the EPI ( Expanded Programme of Immunization) programmed vaccines of the country such as DPT, TT, Japanese Encephalitis, Typhoid, Yellow Fewer and BCG.

Dr K N Venkitaramanan, deputy director of the Pasteur Institute said the group of persons approached the PM on behalf of the Save Pasteur Institute Forum, and they submitted a memorandum to the health minister also. Both the prime minister and the health minister assured the group that they would look into the matter, Dr Venkitaramanan said while speaking to Pharmabiz.

In the memorandum they apprised the ministers that the Coonoor Pasteur Institute was the only public sector unit producing DPT and anti-rabies vaccines in the country. "From the beginning of the institute, which is from 1907 onwards, we have been producing anti-rabies vaccine. DPT was started in 1982. Later on we have produced other vaccines required for the immunization programme of the country", the dy director said.

While narrating the situation there, he said the representative of the Save Pasteur Forum convinced the government of the conducive weather conditions and the necessary quality water, for the manufacture and maintenance of the life saving drug, prevailing in the Nilgiri District of Tamil Nadu, where the Institute is located.

The members of the forum claimed that it was due to the indigenous manufacturing of the drugs that the immunization programme could be effectively carried out in the country and the three public sector units have provided more than 60-70 per cent of immunization requirements at lower costs.

In the memorandum they warned the government that the closure of these institutes would lead to dependence on private companies for the vaccines and that might jeopardize the public health programmes. Over the years the three drug manufacturing units have developed efficient research and development capabilities and they should be encouraged further to cater to domestic needs and reach global standards.

Efficacy, Potency and quality of the drugs manufactured in these units have so far not been questioned by anybody or become subject of dispute, and the efficient man power of the organizations cannot be replaced, they informed the prim minister.

"Nearly 60-70 per cent of DPT group vaccines and 100 per cent of BCG vaccines are met by these Institutes. Remaining vaccines are procured from the private manufactures by the government of India. The estimated number of infants covered under UIP programme are 25 million new births per year", an officer of the Institute said.

The Pasteur Institute of India was started on April 6, 1907, as a hospital exclusively for dog-bite victims, later it was developed into an institute carrying out research work in preventive medicine and manufacturing vaccines.