New Delhi, November 15
India today held talks with China on the important issue of importing vaccines to contain Japanese Encephalitis, which has already taken a heavy toll of human lives in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, who is currently on an official visit to China, discussed with his Chinese counterpart Gao Qiang, and President of the National Family Planning Commission of China Zhang Weiqing, the feasibility of importing vaccines from China.
Dr Ramadoss ascertained from his Chinese counterpart, the number of years the vaccine would provide immunisation and whether it would meet global standards. China’s ability to meet India’s requirement of 12.5 million doses, beginning March to the end of April in 2006, was also part of the talks.
With three more casualties being reported during the past 24 hours, the toll from brain fever in seven East Uttar Pradesh districts has risen to 1063. As per latest information by the UP health authorities, the aggregate number of Japanese Encephalitis patients in seven districts of Gorakhpur and Basti divisions was 4485, with seven new cases being reported in different public hospitals during the past 24 hours.
Other important issues covered, included areas of cooperation, including indigenous systems of medicines (export and import), their processing technologies, quality control and export processing zone for traditional medicines.
