The CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) to probe the alleged malafide intention in putting a ban on vaccine production by three Central public sector undertakings (PSUs) during the tenure of former Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss.
The former health minister had ordered the closure of vaccine production by three PSUs — BCG Vaccine Lab (Chennai), Pasteur Institute (Coonoor) and Central Research Institute of Kasauli — citing a June 2007 WHO report, which had claimed that these units were using redundant technology. However, the ban was later revoked following an internal probe by the ministry.
According to sources, the PE has been registered against unknown officials of the Union health ministry and Directorate-General of Health Services (DGHS). “The agency will soon request the health ministry to provide all relevant documents related to the decision to the CBI. The CBI will complete its probe within three months,” sources said.
“Initial probe by the agency has revealed that the Central PSUs had to stop the manufacturing of several universal vaccines for diphtheria pertussis tetanus (DPT), tetanus toxid (TT), diphtheria and tetanus (DT), measles, polio and bacillus calmette guerin (BCG) following this order of the ministry. The Central PSUs used to supply these vaccines to government hospitals in the country,” sources said. The ministry’s decision to ban production further created a shortage of these vaccines in government hospitals too, sources said.
Sources further said, “The agency is probing malafide intention (if any) in putting a ban on vaccine production by three Central PSUs. Because the decision to ban production ultimately benefited private drug manufacturers. The agency will also question certain private manufacturers in this regard,” sources said.
Even the internal probe by the health ministry had also revealed that the decision to ban manufacturing by the Central PSUs was not required at all and there was no compromise on the quality of the vaccines manufactured by them, sources said. “The agency will also analyse the internal probe report of the ministry in this regard,” sources added.