WHO’s successful assessment of NRA boost to our efforts: Nadda

Nadda said the result is due to hard work of all health functionaries who have collaborated with the ministry in its efforts. He said WHO has termed the 100 per cent compliance in its assessment as another “landmark” achievement. The previous WHO assessment (benchmarking) was conducted in 2012 during which Institutional Development Plan (IDP) and the roadmap for strengthening NRA were developed. “The Ministry is confident that India shall meet all its global commitments in the healthcare sector as a result of these focused endeavours.

“In addition, Mission Indradhanush has strengthened the full immunisation drive of the government,” the Minister said highlighting introduction of newer vaccines in the country’s full immunisation basket. A fully functional NRA is a pre-requisite for WHO prequalification of vaccines.

One of the requirements to become eligible and retain prequalification status is to have the regulatory body assessed ‘functional’ against the WHO’s NRA indicators. The assessment has been carried out by a WHO team comprising experts in different areas from WHO Headquarters Geneva, WHO India Country Office, and those drawn from the regulators of USA, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Indonesia, Thailand and Egypt.