Chennai: CPI(M) today demanded an immediate revoking of the cancellation of licences to three Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) vaccine producing units in the country, following their "non-compliance with WHO standards".

CPI(M) politburo member, Brinda Karat, MP, speaking at a conference on 'Children's Right to Health' here, alleged that the closing of these units would only benefit multi-national pharmaceutical companies that want to set foot in India to exploit the market.

"The Drug Controller of India should immediately revoke cancellation of licenses of BCG Vaccine Lab in Chennai, Pasteur Institute at Coonoor (Tamil Nadu) and Central Research Institute at Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh)," she said.

She launched an offensive against Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss when she said his ministry did nothing to resolve the matter. "Has a penny been spent by the Ministry on the upgradation of the units? Has a step been taken in this direction," she questioned.

The Minister showed more care in attacking actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Rajnikanth as part of his anti-smoking campaigns. There was no proper logic behind the closing of the units and said her party would take up the matter in the Parliament.

"There has never been any complaint on the standards. And in the event of some complaints over standards, it is the duty of the government to address them by upgrading facilities or clean up the weakness," she said.

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