Centre accused of favouring MNCs

MUMBAI, APRIL 4: Minister for Food and Drugs Vasant Chavan today accused the Central Government of favouring multinational drug companies by ordering the Haffkine Institute to stop producing typhoid vaccine.

Replying to a calling attention motion moved by Anil Babar and others, the minister said the Central Government had committed an injustice on Maharashtra and the issue would be taken up with the Centre by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Secretary of Food and Drugs, Thomas Benjamin, would be sent to Delhi to put forth the State’s view.

Chavan said the Haffkine Institute was producing the typhoid vaccine and providing the same at a nominal rate of Re 1 per vial. However, by an order in 1996, the Central Government had asked it to stop producing the vaccine or its licence would not be renewed. He pointed out that while the Haffkine Institute had been asked to stop production of the vaccine on grounds that it was no more effective, multinational drug companies were producing the same vaccine and selling the same for Rs 200 per vial. He said the Central Government’s gesture had benefited multinational drug companies and committed injustice on a genuine public sector company like Haffkine Institute.