In the last week of August, while deciding to not import 2.7 million Pandemrix vaccines manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) -- a global pharmaceutical company -- for the time being, MoHP had stated that it would bring in not-yet-tested swine flu vaccines only if the WHO"s assessment categorically ruled out all sorts of links between those vaccines and symptoms of narcolepsy, a condition in which patients deeply fall asleep.
However, as things stand now, it seems that the MoHP will not get to import swine flu vaccines even if the WHO"s probe provided a clean-chit to the GSK. The WHO, it is learnt, has recently sent a letter to the MoHP, in which the latter has indirectly been criticized for not importing free-of-cost vaccines. In its letter, the WHO has said that it will not be able to provide free of cost vaccines to Nepal in future. ´Reading between the lines, it appears that Nepal will not receive free-of-cost swine flu vaccines in future,´ said a government official. ´This simply means that Nepal will have to buy them, which we cannot afford.´ Dr Sudha Sharma, secretary at the MoHP, had read out the letter at a recently held meeting.
According to a highly-placed source, the WHO had even requested the MoHP to not suspend the import of swine flu vaccines and offered technical assistance in disposing them if investigation found them faulty. The WHO"s offer came after the MoHP expressed concerns over difficulties in disposing vaccines in case they turned out to be faulty afterwards.
The WHO"s indirect warning of not providing free-of-cost vaccines in future comes as a serious jolt to the MoHP in the wake of a sudden surge in swine flu cases. In the last one month, a person has died of swine flu while dozens more have contracted it. Although swine flu, now known as Influenza-A (H1N1), is no more perceived as a life-threatening disease, the WHO stresses the need for the use of vaccines against it.
MoHP fined
As the vaccination drive against swine flu, previously slated for September to November, remains in limbo, a large amount of syringes and safety boxes sent by the WHO are lying unused at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The WHO had sent 3,176,100 syringes and 36,526 safety boxes for administering vaccines.
However, as the MoHP failed to pay VAT (Value Added Tax) and customs charges, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), which operates TIA, seized all syringes and safety boxes. Upon a formal request letter by Ministry of Finance (MoF), CAAN allowed the MoHP to receive syringes and safety boxes without paying VAT and customs charges. However, the MoHP is yet to pay off demurrage charges for not receiving its logistics on time.
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