Health Minister asked to redraw plan to produce Chinese vaccines here

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has proposed to the Cabinet that a joint venture with a Chinese company be set up to produce COVID-19 vaccine for five years, but the Cabinet wants the Minster to review the proposal as the pandemic may not last that long.

The minister's proposal seeks permission to produce in Sri Lanka a second Chinese vaccine which is yet to be granted approval by the World Health Organisation.

Accordingly, the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech has expressed its interest to produce the vaccine and held discussions with a local company for the production, the proposal noted.

The Health Minister has sought cabinet approval to reach an agreement for a “buyback” system where Sri Lanka will purchase the products and in the event of an excess, they could be exported.

Accordingly, the cabinet paper sought approval for the production of the vaccine for a five year period and to enter into an agreement for the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) to buy the Sinovac vaccines.

The minister's justification was that the government had run into problems in providing the required number of vaccines for COVID- 19 cases in view of the high global demand for the vaccine.

The cabinet resolved that the proposal should be reconsidered after discussions were held with the relevant parties including the Chinese company. The minister was advised to resubmit the proposal.

The move came despite Government claiming that the required number of vaccines has already been ordered from different sources.