ISLAMABAD, Feb 09 (APP):Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, on Monday proposed the establishment of an OIC Vaccine Alliance to enhance collaboration among member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in vaccine production.
He expressed these views while addressing the fourth meeting of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group, stressing the urgent need for a joint vaccine alliance among Islamic countries to collectively strengthen manufacturing capacity.
The Minister announced that work on the OIC Vaccine Alliance would commence immediately, focusing on short-, medium- and long-term strategies, enabling member countries to benefit from each other’s expertise and experience.
Highlighting the importance of vaccine manufacturing for Pakistan’s health sector, Mustafa Kamal said local vaccine production remains a major challenge for a country with a population of 240 million.
He said that country was spending millions of dollars on the import of vaccination, out of which 51 percent paid by Pakistan and rest paid by International organizations.
He noted that the government has set a target to end vaccine imports and foreign dependence by 2030, but emphasized the need to accelerate capacity building without waiting for the deadline.
The Federal Health Minister further stated that Pakistan has prepared its first-ever vaccine policy and possesses adequate infrastructure, including strong institutions such as the National Health Authority.
He pointed out that while a single company can produce only one vaccine, Pakistan requires a total of 13 vaccines, underscoring the need for reliable international partnerships. In this regard, he said cooperation is being sought from countries including China, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
Mustafa Kamal also noted that Pakistan’s population is increasing by more than six million annually, making self-sufficiency in vaccine production critical to meeting future health needs.