ISLAMABAD: The 4th Meeting of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group (VMG) was inaugurated on Monday at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad, bringing together policymakers, health officials, and industry representatives to advance vaccine self-reliance and strengthen health security across member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
The meeting is being hosted by OIC-COMSTECH and aims to deepen cooperation among vaccine manufacturers, regulators, and development partners at a time when global supply disruptions have underscored the need for regional manufacturing capacity.
The opening session was attended by Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal as chief guest, along with Aftab Ahmad Khokher, Assistant Secretary-General (Science and Technology) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH.
Senior representatives from the National Institutes of Health Pakistan, national regulatory authorities, vaccine manufacturers, and international partners including the World Health Organization and the Islamic Development Bank also participated.
Focus on vaccine self-reliance
Addressing the participants, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary said the meeting reflects a shared commitment by OIC member states to collective health security. He noted that recent global health crises have demonstrated that vaccine self-reliance is a strategic priority, particularly for countries with high disease burdens and growing populations.
He said the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group, established in 2014, has made progress through cooperation agreements, joint training programmes, and the creation of specialised centres, including the OIC Centre of Excellence on Vaccines and Biotechnology Products in Indonesia.
Pakistan’s plans and regional cooperation
Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan currently relies on imported vaccines for routine immunisation but aims to develop domestic vaccine production capacity by 2030 in collaboration with OIC partners. He proposed closer coordination among member states to address shared public health challenges affecting nearly two billion people across the Islamic world.
Aftab Ahmad Khokher reaffirmed the OIC General Secretariat’s support for strengthening vaccine manufacturing within member states, highlighting the importance of regulatory convergence, standardisation, and increased intra-OIC collaboration. He also commended COMSTECH’s role in translating policy commitments into practical initiatives.
Industry and expert participation
The meeting has drawn participation from vaccine manufacturers and research institutions across the OIC region, including PT Bio Farma of Indonesia, the Pasteur Institute of Iran, the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, VaxSen–Pasteur Institute of Senegal, Pharmaniaga Research Centre of Malaysia, and manufacturers from Pakistan and other member states.
Regulatory bodies and development partners, including SESRIC, SMIIC, and GAVI, are also taking part.
Officials said the meeting is expected to conclude with a set of recommendations and an actionable roadmap to improve vaccine availability, affordability, quality, and regional manufacturing capacity, contributing to both OIC-wide and global health security.
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