ISLAMABAD, March 22: The government has agreed to collaborate with the private sector for the production of a vaccine at the National Institute of Health (NIH), apparently for revitalising the under-performing biological production division.

“(The) NIH will start producing vaccines through (a) public- private partnership,” a health ministry spokesman disclosed.

A trade delegation from Belgium had expressed interest in producing vaccines in collaboration with the NIH few days ago.

The vaccine production laboratories of the NIH were established with Canadian support not only for meeting local demand, but also exporting vaccines. This, however, remained an “unfulfilled wish” with the country continuing to rely on imported vaccines.

A meeting, chaired by the federal health minister, Nasir Khan, on Thursday deliberated upon various proposals for starting the public-private partnership for vaccine production.

Although, the NIH management presented various recommendations for collaborating with vaccine manufacturers, nothing conclusive could be agreed upon.

“The issue would now be discussed in detail, with potential partners from the private sector, with the objective of ultimate technology transfer of basic vaccine production,” an official said after the meeting.

The federal health minister favoured bilateral collaboration with manufacturers from countries engaged in basic manufacture of vaccines.

However, some National Institute of Health officials seemed more inclined towards local collaborations, a source said.

The vaccine production laboratories, with a 156-strong staff were no more than a filling and packaging unit at the moment, where imported concentrates were diluted, according to the required formulation, packaged and supplied.