Fight over non-existent biscuits

Civil society and the media are unfairly blaming a government nutrition programme I have been a political journalist for over three decades. Only recently have I become familiar with the nitty gritty of development reporting. The manner in which malnutrition is covered by a section of the media has come as an eye opener. It appears those who report on the subject generally confine themselves to presenting opinions of people with a similar viewpoint.

Tough nut to crack

A vaccine for corrupt alliances

The last time the prime minister bent too far to keep the coalition going

Vaccine shortage in India

Official admission In December 2008, a team of health ministry officials toured 13 states to review the National Rural Health Mission. They found, among other things, hospitals in Bihar did not have vaccines for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. The review also reported shortages in Assam, where measles vaccine was not available; in Chhattisgarh, measles vaccine was in short supply; in Kerala, DT (diphtheria and tetanus), TT (tetanus

India's vaccine checks

Not good enough, says WHO 2001: India's Drugs and Cosmetics Act is amended to meet international standards; inclusion of National Regulatory Authority (NRA) and WHO's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). NRA is a body that, among other things, inspects whether vaccine manufacturers follow WHO's GMP 2004: WHO inspects public sector vaccine manufacturing units August 2004: Amended Drugs and Cosmetics Act comes into force August 2007: WHO inspects again, says NRA has not ensured GMP compliance

Ministry should give a fair price to private sector

cyrus s poonawalla, chairperson and managing director of Serum Institute of India Ltd, a private vaccine manufacturer, says the vaccine shortage is a mess the government created. Edited excerpts: On self-sufficiency: Except for polio vaccine, we can provide all vaccines required for the Universal Immunization Programme. Whatever orders were placed have been completed on time. On vaccine shortage:

Allegations against former health minister

Ramadoss compromised India's interests Health experts, politicians and even political allies questioned former health minister Anbumani Ramadoss' decision to delicense the public sector units. After a year of inaction to revive the units, S P Shukla, former special secretary, family welfare and a group of public health experts filed a petition in the Supreme Court in February 2009. The petition accused the then health minister of taking decisions that undermined the country's self sufficiency in vaccines for the Universal Immunization Programme.

THE WAY OUT

Strengthen public sector The lack of foresight shown by former health minister Anbumani Ramadoss in shutting the public sector without first ensuring alternatives and lack of transparency have put a generation of children at risk. Clearly, the private sector's focus is not India's vaccine programme. Ghulam Nabi Azad, the new health minister, will need to undo a lot of Ramadoss' work--fast. A policy taking into account the public sector

Get your own vaccine

Cap on trans fats

Vanaspati ghee manufacturers unhappy with proposed standard