Poorva Chavan
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Poorva Chavan | Updated : December 20, 2014 12:54 PM IST
After being declared polio free it has now become India s responsibility to help other developing countries and them with provide polio vaccines. The state run Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (HBPCL) is the only government run company in the country that has an accreditation fro World Health Organisation (WHO), and has a got a huge order from nearly 40 countries for the oral polio vaccine. A number of Asian and African countries like Sri lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Kenya, Ghana and Philippines are relying on Haffkine for the supply of the oral vaccine. (Read: Harsh Vardhan offers full cooperation to Pakistan to fight polio)
Haffkine is known for its quality of vaccine the world over. The company has successfully maintained its WHO accreditation for the last 10 years. To get this accreditation, you have to maintain high standards. We are following all norms of good manufacturing practices. We are a government company but on par with private ones, Samabhaji Zende, managing director, HBPCL told DNA.
He also informed that WHO officials had recently visited Haffkine to train their staff in quality management system and their motto is to serve other developing nations and provide them with the vaccine. (Read: South East Asia on target to be polio-free by 2014: WHO)
After having proved its worth, the company s turnover soared to around 315 crore last year and with an order being placed by the Health Ministry this month for vaccines worth Rs 30 crore, the company s profits will only rise up.
As per WHO guidelines, a country is declared polio-free if it does not reports any new cases of infection for at least three years in a row. But due to its close proximity to countries that have a large number polio cases, India remains vulnerable even after the fact that the last reported case was in 2011. (Read: Polio-free India 5 amazing facts about the journey that helped us eradicate polio)
Image source: Getty Images
For more articles on diseases & conditions, visit our diseases & conditions section. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.
