€3.6m for reconstruction of Torlak Institute

In the first half of the next year, the Institute for Immunology and Virology Torlak should obtain the certificate for production of vaccines against infantile paralysis from the World Health Organization. According to the words of the director of the Institute, Ranko Dakić, the reconstruction of the unit for production of vaccines against infantile paralysis has commenced. Following the completion of the reconstruction, Torlak will be capable of producing 100 million doses of polyo vaccines.

Minister of Health, Tomica Milosavljević, explained that the contract for design of technical documentation, realization of works and procurement of equipment had been signed with the domestic company Hemofarm Inženjering and it is worth €3.6m, whereas the deadline for completion of works is one year. After that, national inspection and WHO inspection should carry out inspection. The strategic plan also includes projects for modernizaton of the units for production of other vaccines. One of the serious plans in the first half of 2006 is modernization of the unit for production of vaccines agains flu, in which 1m USD will be invested.

The works in Torlaku are carries out in the scope of the project for urgent reconstruction of 20 hospitals in Serbia, which is financed from the credit approved by European Investment Bank. Obtaining of the certificate is very important to Torlak because WHO intends to eradicate infantile paralysis within next 15 years. Milosavljević said that he would try to find strategic partner for Torlak this year, but Torlak would remain the public institution. Strategic partner should be one of the three biggest world vaccine manufacturers - Sanofi Pasteur, Glaxo SmithKline and Chiron.
The Minister announced that the delegation from Mexico City would visit Torlak the next weekend and have a talk with the experts from Torlak on joing projects.