Wilful Neoliberal Incapacitation of India's Public Sector Vaccine Institutions

Abstract

The public sector vaccine institutes (PSVIs) established during British India conducted pioneering research. They were self-reliant in vaccine technology development, self-sufficient in vaccine production, and provided remarkable services during epidemics, wars and to newly independent India. Economic liberalization post 1990s resulted in the private sector capturing the market for new expensive vaccines and for the combination vaccines required by the country' universal immunization programme. Of the 29 PSVIs existing prior to the 1980s only 7 are now operational. The government prefers to purchase vaccines from the private sector, even at higher prices. PSVIs core expertise/competence and resources were freely transferred to the private sector. Introduction of pentavalent vaccine has further transformed PSVIs into mere suppliers of components to private companies. The current Covid-19 pandemic has further subjugated PSVIs to the private sector, rather than using them to make the vaccine India needs. The chapter shows how PSVIs noteworthy contributions in serving the country in the past was wilfully incapacitated under the influence of neoliberal policies. © 2022 Taylor and Francis.