Call against setting up lab with MNC support

Congress leader Benny Behanan has urged the government to desist from going ahead with its plan to set up a virology lab in the State with the support of multinational drug companies.

In a press note issued here, he said the move by the government to set up the lab in association with the Global Virus Network and the Baltimore Institute of Virology had serious consequences for Kerala’s health. Reports suggested that the Global Virus Network had signed a contract worth $25 million with multinational drug monopolies for research and development of a Nipah vaccine.

“It is therefore dangerous to set up the lab in collaboration with organisations aided by pharma MNCs,” he said.

Mr. Behanan also asked the government why it had gone back on its promise of setting up virus research facility at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College with the support of ICMR and International Health Organisation.