Odisha Advances Livestock Healthcare: MoU Signed for GMP Facility in Vaccine Production

Bhubaneswar: In a move to enhance livestock healthcare, the Fisheries and ARD Department of the Government of Odisha has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). The agreement aims to establish a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility for the production of Anthrax and Enterotoxaemia (ENT) Vaccines at the Satellite Unit, Odisha Biological Products Institute (OBPI), Berhampur.

The MoU, signed today in the presence of Ranendra Pratap Swain, Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Fisheries, and ARD, marks a crucial step towards making Odisha self-sufficient in the production of these vital vaccines. Minister Swain highlighted that the establishment of this unit would not only cater to the state’s own requirements but also enable the supply of vaccines to other states.

The signing ceremony witnessed the participation of Ramashis Hazra, Director, AH & VS, and Sunil Sinha, Senior General Manager, NDDB, who inked the agreement.

This initiative aligns with the 5-T Charter, an integrated approach by the Odisha government to transform healthcare and disease management for livestock and poultry in the state. The existing satellite unit of OBPI in Berhampur currently produces 22 lakh doses of Anthrax Spore Vaccine (ASV) and 14 lakh doses of Enterotoxaemia Vaccine (ENTV) annually using conventional methods.

The establishment of the GMP laboratory will adhere to WHO norms and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 in India, ensuring the production of high-quality vaccines. Upon operationalization, the facility is expected to produce 2.00 Crore doses of ENTV and 50 Lakh doses of ASV vaccines, respectively.

The total investment for setting up the unit is estimated at Rs. 52 Crore, which will cover consultancy, supervisory services by NDDB, trial runs, and final commissioning of the plant. The construction of the laboratory is projected to be completed within 36 months, creating a state-of-the-art facility for the production of Anthrax and ENT Vaccines, a unique endeavor in the country.