“The decision to manufacture oral medication to tackle mild COVID-19 cases was taken in the HAL review board meeting, held in the plant with the Union minister of state for ports, shipping and waterways, and chemicals and fertilisers, Mansukh Mandaviya, on Friday.” During the visit, Mandaviya also launched an advanced facility for the production of alcoholic hand disinfectant and dry powder injectables. In India, HAL is the only public sector company which provides this amenity.
Saraf gave a briefing on the board meeting. He said, “It was very positive. HAL’s performance was reviewed, and future plans were also discussed. Our turnover target for the next financial year is Rs 200 crore.” Saraf detailed the production of the injectable COVID-19 vaccine. He said, “We are exploring the possibility of manufacturing an injectable COVID vaccine, but there is little hope as the HAL plant has an old set-up — for manufacturing, we will need an entirely new one.”
However, MP Manoj Kotak, president of HAL’s union, Hindustan Antibiotics Mazdoor Sangh, who also attended the meeting, expressed optimism over the COVID-19 vaccine production. He said, “The Union government is positive about manufacturing the COVID-19 injectable vaccine. It is willing to upgrade the HAL plant set-up for the same, with new machinery for production. We have asked the HAL management to send a detailed proposal of the equipment required to manufacture this vaccine and present it to the Union ministry.” According to Kotak, the difficulties of HAL workers were raised at the meeting, because the arrears are still overdue.
In the meantime, Mahesh Landge, a Bhosari Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), had a meeting with the ministry and wrote a letter requesting that measures be taken to begin vaccine production for the benefit of the public. Landge explained the ongoing procedures. He said, “ThePimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) general body meeting unanimously approved the proposal to provide Rs 25 crore in financial assistance for setting up production of the COVID-19 vaccine. We have demanded that workers be given their arrears as early as possible, and also that the age-old HA Colony located opposite the plant be repaired soon, as it is in a pathetic condition.”
