ISLAMABAD, April 6: The National Institute of Health on Wednesday approved a Rs416.8 million project to enhance its vaccine production capacity. The decision was taken at a meeting of the NIH board of governors presided over by Secretary Health Syed Anwar Mehmood. The board approved a new vision for the NIH to achieve self-reliance in vaccine production. The current production of anti-rabies vaccine by sheep-brain technique would be shifted to the tissue culture technique, the meeting decided.

Besides, the NIH will produce quality vaccines against measles and tetanus, which will be helpful in the national Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI). The anti-snake venom and anti-rabies serum vaccines would also be produced in sufficient quantity to meet the requirement of the country.

Career restructuring of different cadres of the employees of the NIH was also discussed to remove blockade in the promotion of officials.

The meeting also approved the promotion of a number of officers who have been working in the same grade for the last 12 years.