The Hindu : National : Meet to be convened on avian flu soon

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Tuesday, Oct 18, 2005

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National

Meet to be convened on avian flu soon

Special Correspondent

Preparedness against possible attack of epidemic to be reviewed

NEW DELHI: : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will soon convene a high-level meeting to review the state of preparedness to deal with the bird flu epidemic, in case it hits the country.

The Union Health Ministry has also sought directions from the World Health Organisation to take steps to meet any exigencies, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told reporters here on Monday.

Asking people not to be scared, Dr. Ramadoss said the Ministry had set up a facility to manufacture influenza vaccine and for the production-cum-procurement of anti-viral drugs. "We have been having a series of fruitful meeting with other Ministries on the issue. These are not empty meetings but eventful interactions where issues such as medicine procurement and stockpiling were discussed," he said.

Import ban

The Government had banned poultry import from those countries where the Avian flu had been reported but "we cannot stockpile vaccine because we don't know which strain of the epidemic would hit the country, if it does," Mr. Ramadoss explained. "When the need arises we will go in for vaccine preparation in the country but we will have enough stock of medicine."

The vaccine could be made at government-manufacturing units such as the Central Research Institute, Kasauli.

On the manufacture of generic drugs for treating the Avian flu, he said a committee had been constituted to look into the issue and suggest whether the Government could cancel patents during emergencies as provided under the law.

As of now it was not required, he clarified. The issue will also be discussed with the Directorate-General of Health Services and the Drugs Controller of India.

Emergency centres

On long-term measures, Dr. Ramadoss said the Ministry planned to open emergency care centres at district headquarters. He was speaking after receiving a copy of the recommendations of the Performance Appraisal Board of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) chaired by space scientist K. Kasturirangan.

Set up in January, the five-member Board has recommended more autonomy to the ICMR by converting it into a separate department backed by a commission which could be chaired by a Minister.

Suggesting measures to "resurrect" the ICMR, the report said the funds given were grossly inadequate and needed to be increased to Rs. 1,000 crores in the 11th Plan and gradually increased to Rs. 2,000 crores.

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