4th Meeting of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group Inaugurated at COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad
Islamabad – 9 February 2026 (MT Team) : The 4th Meeting of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group (VMG) was formally inaugurated on Monday at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad, marking a major milestone in advancing vaccine self-reliance and strengthening health security across the Islamic world.
The inauguration session was graced by Syed Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister of Health as chief guest, along with Aftab Ahmad Khokher, Assistant Secretary-General (Science & Technology), OIC, and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General, OIC-COMSTECH. Dr. M. Salman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Pakistan, senior representatives of the OIC General Secretariat, WHO, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), SESRIC, SMIIC, vaccine manufacturers, regulators, development partners, and experts from OIC Member States, were also present on the occasion.
Welcoming the distinguished participants, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary stated that hosting the fourth meeting of the VMG at a critical global juncture reflects the strong commitment of OIC member states to advancing collective health security. He emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent global supply disruptions clearly demonstrated that vaccine self-reliance is no longer an option but a strategic necessity, particularly for OIC countries facing high disease burdens and rapidly growing populations.
Highlighting the evolution of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group since its establishment in 2014, Prof. Dr. Choudhary noted that the Group has laid strong foundations through cooperation agreements, joint training programmes, and the establishment of the OIC Centre of Excellence on Vaccines and Biotechnology Products in Indonesia.
Addressing the inaugural session, Syed Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister of Health, appreciated the pivotal role of OIC-COMSTECH in promoting scientific cooperation and public health initiatives across the Islamic world. He informed participants that Pakistan is currently using 13 imported vaccines, and shared that the country aims to develop indigenous vaccine production capacity by 2030, in collaboration with OIC member states. He proposed the establishment of a Vaccine Alliance among OIC countries to collectively address the health challenges of nearly 1.9 billion people living in the Islamic world.
In his remarks Aftab Ahmad Khokher, Assistant Secretary-General (Science & Technology), OIC, reaffirmed the strong support of the OIC General Secretariat for the Vaccine Manufacturers Group. He emphasized that strengthening vaccine manufacturing capabilities within OIC Member States is central to the Organization’s broader science, technology, and development agenda. He highlighted the importance of regulatory convergence, standardization, and enhanced intra-OIC collaboration, and commended COMSTECH for its catalytic role in convening stakeholders and translating political commitment into tangible and sustainable outcomes.
The meeting is being attended by leading vaccine manufacturers and research institutions from across the OIC region, including PT Bio Farma (Indonesia), the Pasteur Institute of Iran, the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, VaxSen–Pasteur Institute of Senegal, the Pharmaniaga Research Centre (Malaysia), and manufacturers from Pakistan and other Member States. National regulatory authorities, including the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), along with international partners such as WHO, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), SESRIC, SMIIC, and GAVI, are also participating.
The 4th Meeting of the OIC Vaccine Manufacturers Group is expected to conclude with clear recommendations and an actionable roadmap aimed at enhancing vaccine availability, affordability, quality, and regional self-reliance, thereby contributing meaningfully to OIC-wide and global health security.
