Thursday 02 / May / 2024
Muscat: His Excellency the Health Minister patronises the groundbreaking ceremony of the first Omani Vaccine Factory.
A significant milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for the first Vital Medicine and Vaccine Factory of Opal Bio Pharma (OBP) in the Sultanate of Oman has been marked today, Wednesday, July 12, 2023.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the second phase was held under the auspices of H.E. Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health.
The second phase of the factory for vital medicines and vaccines will be built on an area of 37,000 square meters in Khazaen Economic City at a cost of about OMR 60 million. The phase is scheduled to take 24 months.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that such projects support government visions of multi-sectoral economic diversification, and promote national aspirations of maintaining pharmacological security as one of the vital national security pillars. The Ministry noted that the vaccine industry is of strategic importance, and would place the Sultanate of Oman on the global map of vital and complex medicine production of international demand.
Countries worldwide are facing many challenges that impede access to life-saving medications, among which are scarcity of such drugs, incompatibility with quality and safety standards, or the increase of procurement costs. Therefore, the domestic pharmaceutical industry leads to local pharmacological security, the statement pointed out.
In addition, the medical industry market is a promising sector that contributes to reducing import bills, not to mention that such a health investment also helps to export to the countries of the region. This notion was encouraged at the Investment Lab in the Health Sector, conducted by the Ministry of Health with the support of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit and Oman National Investment Program (Nazdaher) last December.
Sa’ad Moosa Al Junaibi, chairman of the board of directors of OBP affirmed that this manufacturing plant is the first of its kind in the country and in the region as well.
He added that Opal Bio Pharma will provide a distinguished hub for pharmaceutical research and development that accommodates the outputs of scientific and medical universities.
In addition, many job opportunities will be offered to young Omanis of various academic qualifications, in addition to providing drug security by reducing dependence on imports, especially during medical crises and disasters.
Pharmacist Khaled Kassar, member of the advisory board of directors of Opal Bio Pharma said that the first phase of the project involves repackaging and releasing medicines before the end of the year 2023. This step is crucial for accelerating the completion of the second and final phase of full pharmaceutical manufacturing before the end of next year.
He added that the factory will produce vital medicines, including vaccines, oncology and improving immunity treatments, and genetic therapies, knowing that these vaccines are in high demand in the market by governments and international organisations such as the World Health Organisation, especially during medical crises.
Pharmacist Kassar stressed that the process of manufacturing vital medicines and vaccines is subject to the international specifications and standards that enable the company to export its products to all countries of the world.
Eng. Salim Al Dhahli, CEO of Khazaen Economic City stated that the vital medicines and vaccines factory is the first in the Khazaen Pharmaceutical City and targets local and foreign markets. He indicated that this project is the beginning of pharmaceutical projects in the city, which include four projects with approximate investments of OMR 44 million.
Prominent localised industries in Pharma City in Khazaen include the production of insulin, human vital vaccines, veterinary medicines and vaccines, as well as the manufacture of medical supplies and dental implants.
