Pakistan imports over $36 million worth of anti-rabies, anti-venom vaccines from India

[Anik101]

Pakistan imports over $36 million worth of anti-rabies, anti-venom vaccines from India
Pakistan was buying the vaccines despite the chill in bilateral ties, especially after the Pulwama terror attack by a suicide bomber belonging to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist.
By IANS | Updated: Jul 26, 2019, 01.23 PM IST

Agencies
Bboth anti-rabies and anti-venom serum were manufactured in Pakistan but is not enough to fulfil the demand.
ISLAMABAD: Over USD 36 million worth of anti-rabies and anti-venom vaccines have been imported by Pakistan from India due to lack of manufacturing capacity in the country, according to a media report.

The Nation newspaper on Thursday reported that in the last 16 months, Pakistan imported anti-rabies and anti-venom vaccines worth over Rs 250 crores (USD 36 million) from India.
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The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) submitted the statistics in the Senate Standing Committee after Senator Rehman Malik asked about the quantity and value of medicines being imported from India.

He also sought a reply on the capacity of government departments for manufacturing the vaccines.
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In its reply, NHS said that both anti-rabies and anti-venom serum were manufactured in Pakistan by the National Institute of Health, while a private company also manufactured anti-venom serum locally, the report said.

However, the capacity of both manufacturers was not enough to fulfil the demand due to which the vaccines are imported by duly-approved registration holders of these products from India.
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Pakistan was buying the vaccines despite the chill in bilateral ties, especially after the Pulwama terror attack by a suicide bomber belonging to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist.

The report submitted by NHS also revealed that there was a gap in demand and supply of vaccines in different regions of the country.
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Senator Malik suggested that it must be made mandatory for local manufacturers to produce these vaccines as Pakistan is self-sufficient in medical raw material and that vaccines manufactured here will be much more affordable.

 

[YeBeWarned]

I know why we import so many Anti-Snake venom vaccines , because we have a lot of Afghans in our country, Biting us everyday .

 

[Pakistansdefender]

Shame

 

[American Pakistani]

Shameful if a nation of 220 Million cannot fulfill the demands of such basic manufacturing like these vaccines or pharmaceuticals.

 

[undercover JIX]

Thank you India.

 

[khail007]

Is that same senator (Rehman Malik) who's party also remain in power for so long? Why he didn't advised Zardari to invest .0001% of his corruption for the purpose?

 

[khansaheeb]

Shameful if a nation of 220 Million cannot fulfill the demands of such basic manufacturing like these vaccines or pharmaceuticals.

We have two options, kill the snakes or buy more vaccines. Seems like buying more vacinnes is the more profitable option. Third option is to educate the public about how to avoid snake bites.

 

[Kaniska]

Shameful if a nation of 220 Million cannot fulfill the demands of such basic manufacturing like these vaccines or pharmaceuticals.

Take it easy...Buying from India must be beat option for Pakistan, so you brought it...If we required India must be buting many things from Pakistan that is better deal than other countries

 

[El Sidd]

Rahman Malik should be awarded some sort of national recognition for his services as a chameleon to the country.

 

[Chhatrapati]

I know why we import so many Anti-Snake venom vaccines , because we have a lot of Afghans in our country, Biting us everyday .

It's a good thing, don't kill all the snakes you see or they go local extinction. Something happened to Asiatic lions (only surviving in India), and Asiatic Cheetahs (extinct in both India and Pakistan) now only surviving in Iran.

 

[Max Pain]

Take it easy...Buying from India must be beat option for Pakistan, so you brought it...If we required India must be buting many things from Pakistan that is better deal than other countries

I believe buying from India isnt the main issue. It is our inability to cater to our own demands where we really should've. This unnecessarily adds on to our already dismal import bill.

 

[Chhatrapati]

I believe buying from India isnt the main issue. It is our inability to cater to our own demands where we really should've. This unnecessarily adds on to our already dismal import bill.

You can't start making everything you need. Most of the machinery we use in Pharma and medical sectors are German imports which costs millions of dollars for a single unit. Or the capsules, covers or other chemical which are imported from China, it won't make economic sense to manufacture them even developing such industries will take years to mature, so the best way is to import as it will be cheaper.

 

[CHACHA"G"]

Its monsoon and flood warning is also there ……. Better be ready then sorry ….. If we need more import it .. and try to improve local production ..

 

[Max Pain]

You can't start making everything you need. Most of the machinery we use in Pharma and medical sectors are German imports which costs millions of dollars for a single unit. Or the capsules, covers or other chemical which are imported from China, it won't make economic sense to manufacture them even developing such industries will take years to mature, so the best way is to import as it will be cheaper.

yes currently importing From India seems to be the right option but slowly we'd have to scale up our own industry to cater to this demand, an import still is an import and a country like Pakistan is certainly better off producing such vaccines locally.

 

[Republic]

Shameful if a nation of 220 Million cannot fulfill the demands of such basic manufacturing like these vaccines or pharmaceuticals.

Vaccine manufacturing is not a basic but much complicated thing. And the challenge is not making vaccine, rather making it dirt cheap, so that it can be provided to millions of million people either free ( with government subsidy) or for a very low price.

Most of the vaccines have one year standard self life. All unused vaccines have to be destroyed after one year and new stock has to be purchased. That's why low price vaccine are required to be produced.
India has achieved this efficiency after many years and is now a major exporter.
There is nothing wrong in trading life saving drugs with your enemy. Some things are kept beyond rivalry.
Hope you understand.