Science & Technology Projects
The OIC Program on Achieving Self Reliance in Vaccine Production (SRVP) In
The Islamic World
Workshops:
Outcome of the Information Meeting (13-15 March, 2004; Tunis – Tunisia)
The IDB organized an information meeting in Tunis on 13-15 March, 2004. The
meeting decided to establish a network linking IDB, the Group of Experts and
the Vaccine Producers, with a coordinator selected annually among the Vaccine
Producers. The meeting also established technical groups among the producers
for Training and Technology Transfer and specified focal points for the countries
concerned.
Outcome of the International Summit on Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical
Compliance (04-07 October, 2004; Cairo-Egypt)
The IDB co-sponsored the International Summit on Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical
Compliance in Cairo (Egypt) on 4-7 October, 2004. It was a technical meeting
having training sessions for the vaccine producers on pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical
compliance. The impact of the gathering was usefully enhanced by the participation
of three Egyptian Ministers, the Ambassador of Canada and high-profile scientific
and industrial compliance authorities from advanced countries. The Summit achieved
its objectives based on the high quality and huge attendance of the training
sessions, the presence of international advanced compliance authorities, the
World Health Organization, and the support of the Government of Canada.
It is hoped that such a format of convention focusing an actual transfer of
knowledge from advanced countries to the IDB member countries, at a level where
it can achieve real positive impact on institutional capacity building and socio-economic
development, will be pursued by the IDB in the future and emulated by others.
Outcome of the Second Annual Meeting of the SRVP(15-18 April 2005;Kualalumpur,
Malaysia)
The Annual Meeting convened with the following objectives ;
- To pursue coordinated contacts among the parties towards the implementation
of the program.
- To discuss with the beneficiaries and the WHO in detail the relevant IDB
rules and procedures governing the program.
- To discuss eligibility mechanisms for the WHO certification which is key
to achieving self-reliance in vaccine production, the ultimate goal of the
SRVP program.
- To discuss and finalize the implementation of the web portal with the assistance
of IDB's I.T. Department.
- To identify and study issues raised and problems encountered by each party
to the program and to agree on suitable solutions
- To discuss and finalize the SRVP Training Scheme.
- To assess financial implications and required resources thereon.
The main outcome of the meeting was the consensus on the formulation of a strategic
plan to guarantee that the producers will sustain the enhancement of their production
capacity in order to cover the needs of the OIC member countries; such a strategic
plan should be drafted by the Malaysia focal point circulated to all participants
for review and finalized for submission at the third annual meeting. To this
effect a Steering Committee made of representative of each producer/national
control authority was established under the chairmanship of the Malaysia focal
point, Dr. Nor Shahidah Khairullah.
The Meeting issued the following recommendations;
- With regard to funding, it was agreed that the funding requests must be
according to IDB’s rules and procedures and be related to the improvement
of quality and increasing of capacity of existing vaccines and producing new
vaccines.
- It was also agreed that the vaccine producers and NRA will send their request
for financing of technical and economical feasibility studies to the IDB to
produce bankable document which can be used to request financing for the above
mentioned.
- Necessary funding for research and development should also be requested
from the IDB.
- In view of the social and economical impact, emphasis should also be placed
on the production of veterinary vaccines.
- There is a need to improve communication and collaboration between vaccine
producers and relevant organizations such as NRA, WHO and IDB.
- The producers discussed and approved the functional and technical requirements
definition document for the web portal which should be constructed within
six months.
- Research and development on vaccine for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Diseases
should be encouraged among the producers.
- All the participating producers expressed their concern about the delisting
of BIO FARMA, Indonesia from WHO pre-qualification list and urge BIO FARMA
to do what is necessary to regain pre-qualification.
- The Private Sector in OIC member countries should be encouraged to establish
vaccine production facilities which meet international standards.
- Awareness on laboratory biosafety among producers should be encouraged.
- Training proposal scheme prepared by Drs.Masjedi, Saffari and Chouaib were
adopted and approved by the participants in its entirety. The first and second
advanced trainings listed in the proposal are to be combined for convenience.
The training is to be offered in Sep.2005 for approximately 30 participants
in Iran.
- Management training pertaining to vaccine production and regulations should
be included in the proposal.
- Four Ph.D and post-doctoral positions in the areas of Medical and Pharmaceutical
Biotechnology can be offered by Pasteur Institute of Iran.
- BIO FARMA, Indonesia, Pasteur and Razi Institutes, Iran and VACSERA, Egypt,
expressed their willingness to train individuals from other vaccine producers.
- The producers are urged to do whatever is necessary to fulfill all the WHO
requirements for pre-qualification.
- The OIC member countries are urged to ensure their NRA independence and
ability to fulfill all critical functions required for the WHO prequalification.
- Capacity building to enable vaccine producers and NRAs for the WHO pre qualification
is highly recommended in the near future.
The Third Annual Meeting will be held in Cairo, Egypt (tentatively in December
2006) at the invitation of H.E. the Health Minister, Egypt and co-organized
by VACSERA and the STO.
