The union health ministry has decided to include the vaccine in the national immunisation programme, which would increase the demand for the vaccine by more than 300 per cent in the first year and an annual growth of at least 25 per cent to 30 per cent in the following years.
The union health minister Anbumani Ramdoss said that as a special focus on the preventive health programme, which is part of the National Health Mission 2005, the government has decided to include Hepatitis-B vaccine in the programme.
By including the vaccine in the immunisation scheme, the government would procure large quantity of vaccine, which would be approximately 100 million dozes per annum.
The current manufacturing capacity with the leading five manufacturers in India is estimated to be about 400 million dozes. The companies in the segment are Serum Institute of India, GSK India, Shanta Biotechnics, Wockhardt and Bharat Biotech, Panacea Biotech, Unichem and Intas Pharma.
Since the market for Hepatitis B vaccine in India is in a bad shape owing to tepid demand and falling prices, manufacturers were in dilemma whether to remain in the business or not.
The industry is now, however, buoyant about the government's decision V Kapre, executive director, Serum Institute of India, the largest manufacturer of Hepatitis B vaccine and the only manufacturer of DPT Hep-B combination vaccine in the country, said though the decision was delayed, the industry should appreciate the move, which will not only help manufacturers but also improve public health in the country.
Many players, including multinational Pfizer and domestic major Cadila Healthcare, which had launched the vaccine in India, have, however, already discontinued the product. Many more have shifted their focus to other vaccines and new generation combination products.