Govt working on war footing to ensure local production of vaccines before 2030: minister

Islamabad: Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal has said the government is working on war footing to ensure local production of vaccines before 2030. 

Addressing an event in Islamabad, he said that all thirteen vaccines currently administered to children are being imported. He said 51 percent of the cost is borne by the government, while the remaining 49 percent is covered by donors.

Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan is exploring collaboration with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and China for local production of these vaccines. 

He said Pakistan has the potential to also locally produce raw material of these vaccines. He expressed the confidence that exploiting this potential will also help Pakistan export the vaccines. 

Mustafa Kamal said the government is exploring both government to government and business to business collaboration to achieve our objectives in the vaccine production.