Bio Farma Urges OIC Countries to Strengthen Vaccine Cooperation
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Bio Farma has urged Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries to strengthen cooperation in vaccine research to make them self-reliance in vaccine industry.
"We need to strengthen our collaboration in research, production and supply of biological products related to vaccine," Bio Farma President Director Iskandar (one name) said in his presentation in front of vaccine experts attending the 2nd meeting of OIC vaccine & medicine manufacturers, in Bandung, on Sunday.
Prior to Iskandar's presentation on OIC vaccine industry cooperation, delegates from nine OIC member countries (which already have vaccine-making companies or institutions) had approved appointment of Juliman (one name), Bio Farma Director of Production, as chair of the meeting that runs from 16 to 19 June, 2013.
Iskandar emphasized the importance of vaccine research and production among OIC member countries to make them self-reliant in vaccine industry.
He noted the experience of Indonesia, being the world's largest Moslem nation with a population of 240 million, whose need of vaccine has been supplied by the 123-year-old Bio Farma.
For the shorter term period, he said Bio Farma wishes to strengthen the cooperation among Islamic countries in vaccine production while for the medium term it wants to jointly develop new vaccines which are needed by Islamic countries.
Delegates attending the meeting enthusiastically welcomed Indonesia's ideas for an increased cooperation in vaccine research and production to make them self-reliant in vaccine supplies for meeting their needs of vaccine.
Iran and Saudi Arabia, especially, had appreciated Bio Farma's offer for cooperation and initiative on vaccine self-reliance among Islamic countries.
Indonesia's decision to host the meeting is a follow up to the decision of the meeting of Islamic Countries' Advisory Group in Ankara Turkey and the 6th meeting of the OIC Steering Committee on Health in Jakarta.
In addition, the Indonesian government through the letter of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health to OIC Secretary General has also expressed willingness to host a meeting to finalize the implementation plan for Strategic Health Action Programme 2013-2022.
Bio Farma itself is Indonesia's only vaccine manufacturer whose some of its products have been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) so that the company can supply its products to over 100 countries worldwide.
Currently the needs for Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccines in Indonesia have been supplied solely by Bio Farma by producing and distributing over 1.7 billion doses of vaccine per year to meet the needs of EPI vaccine for national immunization program.
Bio Farma has an outstanding international reputation based on the WHO prequalification for all of its EPI vaccine products. It has also implemented green industry and is environment friendly.
WHO acknowledges that Bio Farma vaccine products are of high quality, efficacious, and affordable.
Bio Farma products are exported to countries around the world through the direct distribution or through various agencies such as UNICEF and PAHO.
The company has obtained the Best Export Performance from the Indonesian Trade Ministry consecutively in 2010, 2011 and 2012 as an evidence of its consistent exceptional performance.
