RAWALPINDI, May 30: The National Institute of Health has refuted allegations raised by Pakistan Medical Association, Rawalpindi Islamabad chapter, about import of a rabies vaccine from a Brazilian institute.

In a rejoinder to the PMA allegations published in Dawn on May 12, the NIH maintained that though the cell culture rabies vaccine had not been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), no WHO approved institute had expressed interest to sell their vaccine to the NIH. Therefore, the institute had no other option but buy the vaccine from the Brazilian institute, Butantan.

The executive director of the NIH said WHO gave approval to the medicines bought by United Nations Organisation and 80 to 90 per cent biologicals including vaccines registered with the drug controller for import in Pakistan were not WHO approved.

He said NIH had so far signed only one memorandum of understanding and no agreement had been inked with the Brazilian institute. About the allegation that the naked vials would be imported and sold to hospitals after labelling at the NIH, he said the practice was allowed under the drug act and would be followed to meet the shortage of rabies vaccine in the country.

About the shortage of anti-rabies and anti-snake venom vaccines, the NIH official said it was mainly due to management failure, shortage of funds and above all non-investment in human resources. Regarding the allegation of production of obsolete rabies at NIH, he said sheep brain vaccine was not obsolete and was comparatively cheaper than cell culture vaccine as the former cost Rs500 per course while the latter Rs5,000. And the majority of public sector hospitals do not have funds to purchase cell culture vaccine even at lower cost from the NIH.

About the purchase of auto-destructive syringes from the Extended Programme of Immunisation despite the fact that they were disapproved by central drug laboratory, the NIH said the syringes were approved by WHO.

The procurement was made through federal procurement committee after fulfilling due legal process, he added. About the allegation that the NIH was being transformed into a company, the NIH official said the plan was only to restructure the biological production division into a functionally independent entity under the management and control of the NIH.