Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya spoke at the Global Vaccine Research Collaborative discussion in Hyderabad on Saturday. He emphasized the importance of international collaboration in vaccine research and development. Mandaviya suggested that G20 countries could learn from India’s experience in this field. He also highlighted India’s success in tackling measles, polio, and smallpox.
Mandaviya stated that the government has provided financial incentives and streamlined regulatory processes to encourage vaccine manufacturers to increase their production capacity. Furthermore, they have taken steps to make vaccines available in rural areas through primary health centres and healthcare assets. The Union minister said that India is committed to advancing priorities in the health sector, such as accessibility of medicines and vaccines and pandemic preparedness.
Mandaviya asked the participating delegates from the G20 and special invitee countries to leverage India’s experience in the field to speed up vaccine development. He particularly emphasized the importance of dealing with emerging pathogens with the potential of becoming a pandemic.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan highlighted India’s role as a global leader in generics and biosimilars. He also stressed the need to cut down the manufacturing cycle in developing and producing vaccines to less than a year. Telangana Industries Secretary Jayesh Rajan shared the state’s experience facilitating Hyderabad becoming the vaccine manufacturing hub.
