HYDERABAD, July 8: Adviser to the Sindh chief minister on health Faisal Malik Gabol has said that the Sindh government is preparing a feasibility report for setting up anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) and anti-snake venom (ASV) manufacturing laboratory in Mithi to solve the problem of shortage of drugs in Sindh. Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, he said officials from the National Institute of Health, Islamabad, had visited Hyderabad for discussing the matter with the director-general of the Sindh health services, Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi.

The adviser and the DG health said a feasibility report was being prepared for establishing a laboratory in Mithi or somewhere else to manufacture the two vaccines.

Dr Jatoi said the initial cost of the project had been estimated at Rs50.5 million and after working out details the adviser would send it to the Sindh chief minister.

“Economics of the project such as supply and demand of the vaccines are being looked into to check requirement of vaccines in Sindh because cases of snake bite are normally reported in the monsoon season”, the adviser said.

He said the Sindh government would also welcome the private sector for investment in manufacturing of the two vaccines.

He said the Sindh chief minister had also been taken into confidence that it was a provincial subject therefore it should be tackled locally.

He said EDOs were directed to prepare contingency plans for the flood-related situation in collaboration with the civil administration.

Mr Gabol said stock of necessary medicines, life-saving drugs, ASV and ARV and medicines for stomach disease were being made available and relief camps with mobile medical teams were being formed in rain-affected areas to avoid outbreak of diseases.

He underlined the need for making available stocks of ASV and ARV in taluka and district hospitals and rural health centres (RHC) as well as basic health units (BHU).

He said EDOs were asked that if NIH-produced vaccine was not available then they could purchase imported vaccine by approaching the DCO concerned for provision of budget.

“About 3,000 vials each of ARV and ASV had been obtained from the NIH on the priority basis for saving lives.

The secretary health was directed to arrange ARV and ASV by importing the same as the NIH did not have any more vials”, he said.

He said drug inspectors needed powers to seal the shops of those people who were selling samples, spurious drugs or government’s medicines.

“It is a big mafia which is required to be eliminated for which some powers are needed”, he said.