[Marxistindia] Letter from Brinda Karat to Health Minister Regarding shortage of vaccines

marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)

October 12, 2009

Dear Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad ji,

I write to draw your attention to an impending shortage of vaccines
required for the universal immunization programme. It is ironic that
while national attention has been on the production of new vaccines for
swine flu with the private sector competing to capture the market, the
more basic needs of crores of our children for protection against
diseases some of which are life threatening are neglected.

According to information provided by the Ministry of Health in response
to an RTI application the extent of shortages are as follows:

REQUIREMENT
(IN CRORES)

2008-09
PROCUREMENT

2009-10
PROCUREMENT

SHORTAGE

BCG

10.25

8.89

10.11

DPT

18.19

14.10

14.31

9 Crores

DT

4.79

4.47

0

OPV

19.79

17.88

16.63

3 Crores

TT

17.83

13.78

13.69

3.14 Crores

MEASLES

4.78

4.98

3.88

90 Lakh

TOTAL

75.63

64.10

58.32

SHORTAGE

11.22

17

% OF SHORTAGE

14.50 %

22 %

Thus the crucial protection essential against diseases like diptheria,
measles and even against tetanus is gravely undermined by shortages to
the extent of 17 crores doses. Shockingly the situation which was bad
enough in 2008-2009 with an overall shortfall of around 14.5 per cent,
further deteriorated in 2009-2010 to a shortfall between requirement and
procurement of 22 per cent.

According to Government statistics the percentage of children covered
through the universal immunization programme has shown a steady
increase. If the figures are correct and the projected requirements are
also accurate then the failure of the Ministry to procure adequate
number of vaccines has to be explained and accountability fixed. If on
the other hand there are adequate stocks with the Centre and State
Governments the implications are that the figures of immunization are
false and exaggerated and that since a fewer number of children are
getting immunized the requirement is less. In either case the central
issue is the undermining of the universal immunization programme and the
serious consequences it has for crores of our children, infants and new
born babies.

Another aspect of the shortages is related to the shortsighted policy of
closing down the vaccine producing PSUs by the previous UPA Government.
After your assumption as Union Health Minister you had given a
categorical statement in Parliament which was appreciated across party
lines, that the units will be reopened for production of vaccines.
Regrettably this has not happened and dependence on private sector has
grown.

I request you to kindly look into the issue of shortages of vaccines and
take urgent steps to procure vaccines in adequate quantities to avert a
health disaster. I also request you to ensure that the authorities
concerned take urgent and adequate steps to restart full production of
vaccines in the PSU units which had been closed down.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

BRINDA KARAT

Shri. Ghulam Nabi Azad

Hon'ble Minister for Health and

Family Welfare

G.O.I. New Delhi

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