Even though the central government has given its final approval to HLL Lifecare Ltd for setting up an Integrated Vaccine Complex (IVC) at Chengalpattu near Chennai in three years, experts have expressed doubt over the completion of the complex in three years' time.

The government has to find further ways for clearing way for the company to complete the task in three years, they said.

Besides, the production of all vaccines for the National Immunisation Programme in the proposed IVC is uncertain within this stipulated time. As per the new decision of the government, HLL Lifecare, the mini-ratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, will undertake the work of establishing the all-vaccine manufacturing unit in a 100-acre land at Chengalpattu within three years.

The vaccine experts who are watching the developments in health ministry closely, said this is the second time the government of India declares that HLL will set up the vaccine complex at the site within three years. First announcement in this regard came from the former union health minister way back in early 2008, soon after suspending the production licences of the three public sector units.

In the meantime, the mini-ratna company was given another assignment of establishing WHO-GMP facilities at the manufacturing sites of CRI Kasauli, Pasteur Institute, Coonoor and BCG VL, Chennai. HLL had also submitted proposals for these assignments and engaged in the task of setting up the facilities at CRI and at PII, which are yet to finish.

According to sources, the IVC will manufacture all the vaccines for the national immunisation program and a few other new generation vaccines. The Rs.594 crore project, which got clearance from the Public Investment Board on February 10, will be taken to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for its approval.

While interacting with Pharmabiz, the vaccine experts ask how HLL can complete the work of cGMP facilities within three years in the existing units along with bringing up a comprehensive vaccine park in a 100-acre area.

When contacted, a vaccine expert and former director of BCG VL and PII said the government has the vaccines seeds of DPT and BCG only, then where the HLL will procure the seeds of Polio, Measles and HIB, and of those new generation vaccines from. He said the World Health Organisation in a letter on 11.2.2007 had informed him that they were not the repository or supplier of Measles seed and the technology. So it will be difficult for the Company to procure vaccine seeds and technology required for the manufacture of polio, measles, rubella and HIB. He added that the BCG seeds available with the BCG VL were taken for manufacture on several times.

The NIP covers vaccines such as BCG, DPT, TT, DT, measles, polio, hepatitis B and HIB. Recently the government has introduced the five-in-one Pentavalent vaccine into the Program in some states. The former director of PII said since the Pentavalent includes DPT, the manufacture of DPT vaccine in Pasteur Institute will go waste.

When the project of the Vaccine Park is realized, the production in the present age old units will automatically come to a halt, experts opined.