Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution and Education (CADRE), a society registered under Andhra Pradesh Societies Act 2001, has recently moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court to stay all the proceedings related to the procurement of anti-rabies vaccine by Andhra Pradesh Health and Medical Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APHMHIDC) for the government hospitals in the state. It is understood that the court is likely to take up the issue in the next week.

In an affidavit filed in the High Court, the petitioner, Dr R Vasudeva Reddy, joint secretary, CADRE, said that Human Biologicals Ltd, part of Indian Immunologicals Ltd, has entered into an agreement in 2008-2009 to supply anti-rabies vaccine 0.5ml (intra muscular route) with the government.

Subsequently, APHMHIDC, the agency for procuring medicines for government hospitals in the state, immediately stopped procurement of vaccines from the company following a letter from director of Drugs Control Administration, Andhra Pradesh, who is the competent authority to approve the licenses and ensure compliance of the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, in October, 2010 that the anti-rabies vaccine of 0.1 ml for intra dermal route supplied by Human Biologicals does not comply with the basic requirements of valid license. The company’s proposal to supply 0.1 ml anti-rabies vaccines (intra dermal route) under the APHMHIDC bid, dated on July 19, 2010, to procure medicines, was rejected for want for valid license.

In the affidavit the petitioner alleged that the authorities converted the entire process into a big farce and ignored the basic facts whether the drugs are manufactured through valid licenses or not. He has also alleged that the principal secretary, medical and health department, government of Andhra Pradesh, who is also the chairman of the Price Bid Committee, had unilaterally decided the procurement process in abuse of his office by recommending procurement of anti rabies vaccine from Human Biologicals. The petitioner has requested the court to issue an order to restrain the authorities from the procurement of anti-rabies vaccine.