DGHS procures 10.4cr syringes from JMISMDL

The Directorate General of Medical Services (DGHS) has issued a procurement order of 3.3 crore auto disable (AD) syringes from JMI Syringes and Medical Devices Ltd (JMISMDL).

It will be used to carry out the Covid-19 vaccination drive, says a press release.

Additionally, the DGHS will acquire 7.1 crore syringes for its Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) initiative. In total, the DGHS is going to procure 10.4 crore syringes from the company.

This was revealed at the 220th meeting of the board of directors of JMISMDL in Dhaka on Thursday, the release adds.

The AD syringe is required to carry the Covid-19 vaccine and JMISMDL is the only accredited manufacturer of the syringe in the country.

Two US-based organisations have also sent letters of intent to procure 23 crore and 30 crore units of different syringes.

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has also sent a letter to JMISMDL, asking about its capacity to supply AD syringes of various types for each month of 2021.

The meeting also revealed that since 2012, JMISMDL has been a World Health Organization-certified company, exporting products to various countries.

This year, the company has acquired the pre-requisite Conformité Européenne (CE) certificate, through which they will be able to sell AD syringes to various countries in Europe.

Currently, JMI Syringes has the capacity to produce 12 lakh syringes each day, putting its monthly production capacity at 3.6 crore units.

"We did not close the factory even for a day during the Covid-19 pandemic. Production has continued by ensuring the health protection of the workers, in accordance with the rules of the International Labour Organization," said Mohammad Abdur Razzaq, founder and managing director of JMISMDL.

"We have been providing syringes for the government's immunisation programme since 2007, without interruption. As a result of this, the government has placed its trust in us for the novel coronavirus vaccination programme. The DGHS has given us the order to supply 3.3 crore AD syringes. We thank Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for putting their faith in us," Razzaq also said.

"As different countries of the world have begun to take up the Covid-19 vaccination programme, we are seeing an increasing amount of interest from various countries. For example, we have exported 1.5 crore syringes to Indonesia. The United States and UNICEF also want to take syringes from us. Moreover, we are participating in tenders through our representatives in various Asian countries including Nepal," he added. 

"However, there is one thing I would like to say to you. Although we must give importance to export, meeting the demands of the country must be given priority," said the JMI MD.

"We have been continuously producing AD syringes in the country, to discourage importing the specialty syringe, for the last 13 years at the initiative of the Ministry of Health. We also want to work in the interest of the country in the field of vaccination against the novel coronavirus," said Mohammad Jabed Iqbal Pathan, Chairman of JMI Syringes.

He urged every employee of the company to take necessary preparations for working together to ensure production and supply of the syringes demanded as per all their work orders.

In the October-December quarter of the current fiscal year 2020-21, the earnings per share (EPS) of JMISMDL stood at Tk2.88, an increase from Tk2.59 in the same quarter of the previous fiscal 2019-20. 

Among others, independent directors of the company Abdul Haque, ATM Serajus Salekin Chowdhury and Mustafizur Rahman; Chief Financial Officer of JMI Group Md Zahangir Alam and Chief Financial Officer of JMI Syringes and Medical Devices Ltd Ranjit Chakraborty, were also present at the board meeting.