ADB and health minister discuss technical cooperation, with local vaccine production at the top of the agenda
ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and a delegation of the Asian Development Bank have discussed technical cooperation to strengthen Pakistan’s healthcare system, with local vaccine production at the top of the agenda. The talks covered the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), the National Institute of Health (NIH), the 13 vaccines given to children under the national immunisation programme, the Universal Medical Record, population-related challenges and the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA).
Both sides agreed that Pakistan needs to cut its reliance on imported vaccines. The national programme provides children with 13 types of vaccines against preventable diseases, but most of the supply still comes from abroad. Building domestic manufacturing capacity, the meeting was told, would secure supplies, raise pharmaceutical quality standards and make the regulatory framework more effective.
In a separate engagement on the same theme, the health minister also met a delegation of AJ Vaccines led by its Global Sales Director Jens Ulrik Als to explore cooperation in local vaccine production and manufacturing. Kamal briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s population of around 260 million, the challenges facing the health sector and the country’s vaccine requirements, and both sides exchanged views on strengthening domestic manufacturing and making immunisation supplies more sustainable.
Officials said the proposed cooperation aims to build institutional capacity, modernise the healthcare system and leave the country better prepared for emerging health challenges.
