SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has called for revival of Pasteur Institute in partnership with global experts who are capable of taking it to greater heights in the field of health care.
The chief minister was addressing a gathering on the occasion of the centenary celebration of the Institute in the presence of Health and Family Welfare Minister A.L. Hek, Chief Secretary P.B.O Warjri, Secretary, National Health Mission, M.R. Synrem, Directors of the three Directorates of Health Services, health officials of various ranks and hosts of doctors and members of the medical fraternity.
Pasteur Institute, Shillong is the oldest and one of the premier institutes which was founded in memory of then British Emperor Edward VII by public subscription in the then Bengal and Assam during the British Rule. The foundation stone was laid by the then Chief Commissioner of Assam, Sir Archdale Earl K.C.I.E on November 4, 1915. The Directorate of Health Services (Research) was created in the Institute in 1987.
The Institute was established on the lines of other Pasteur Institutes in the country for the purpose of controlling diseases through the usage of vaccines. Accordingly, the Institute has contributed to this purpose through research and production of vaccines like Neural Anti Rabies vaccines and Cholera, Typhoid and Paratyphoid vaccines from the year 1917-2005 and 1922-1996 respectively.
However, production of these vaccines was stopped as per the directives from the Centre and only Tetanus Toxoid vaccine is prepared. It also started administering tissue culture Anti Rabies vaccine for OPD cases.
Besides these, Pasteur Institute has for the past many years provided important facilities like laboratory testing centre, centre for diagnosis advice and treatment of rabies cases and other animal bites, maintenance of cold chain system for EPI/UIP vaccines, AIDS and vaccines for Meningococcal Meningitis and Regional Blood Bank.
The chief minister congratulated all the members associated with the Institute saying innumerable precious lives have been saved in its long innings because of having this facility for the people of the region. He said that it is the responsibility of the government to put in place all measures capable of dealing with the challenges of saving the lives of the people including preventive, diagnostic interventions supplemented by various research and development.
On the proposal of reviving the vaccine producing units in the Institute as mentioned by Health & Family Welfare Minister, A.L. Hek in his address, the chief minister said he has already engaged in discussions with the department on how to approach in this regard and reiterated that government will look at a number of global partners who will not only be available for reviving and manufacturing of various vaccines but also look at production of many vaccines which are on demand globally and at the same time create expertise among the local people.
“If we take advantage of the legacy of 100 years of this Institute to create opportunities for our people, piggy-riding on the experts from abroad, it can be a game changer and there will be lots of scopes for our potential, ambitious new generation,” he said.
Stating the reasons for the delay in construction of the two medical colleges in the State, the chief minister stressed the need for due diligence and to adopt the best approach so that whatever we plan we can complete on timelines, “because one medical college can be a game changer for the state”. Referring to RIMS, Imphal and a number of medical institutes opening up across the country, he lamented that with “Pasteur Institute happening in 1915, we have been left far, far behind”, and added that with the right kind of approach this Institute should be one such model which will open up opportunities for those in the media fraternity to be the best in the country through partnership.
The release of a Centenary souvenir and felicitations of the two most regular voluntary blood donors at the Institute – Philip Marwein and Deborah Shylla – and other voluntary blood donor organizations marked the occasion.