Pasteur Institute of India

The death of a young English lady Lily Pakenham Walsh, due to hydrophobia in the year 1902 who could not get Antirabies treatment in time, led to the establishment of Pasteur Institute of Southern India. Mr.Henry Phipps, American Philanthropist donated to Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India, a sum of Rs.50.00 lakhs for the development of Medical Institutions, out of which, a sum of Rupees one lakh was allocated to start the Pasteur Institute of Southern India at Coonoor. The cool and equitable climate led to the choice of Coonoor as the most suitable location for the construction of the Institute. Spread over an area of 16 acres of land the Institute is situated on a grassy knoll on the upper reaches of Coonoor town amidst beautiful surroundings with lush greenery, manicured lawns and flower gardens. It has a glorious tradition of single minded dedication to alleviate the suffering of humanity by its contribution to the research and development of vaccines in the country.

Pasteur Institute of India, Coonoor is a pioneer Institute involved in the production of Antirabies Vaccine since 1907 and DPT group of Vaccines since 1982,. The Institute started functioning as Pasteur Institute of Southern India, on 6th April 1907 and took a new birth as the Pasteur Institute of India and started functioning as an Autonomous Body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi from the 10th of February, 1977. The affairs of the Institute are managed by a Governing Body. The Institute is functioning on a ‘no profit no loss’ basis. This Institute has been the primary contributor of DPT group of vaccines to the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), Govt. of India since 1982.

In the year 2011, the Govt. of India funded to establish cGMP facility for manufacturing DPT group of vaccines with a project cost of 137.02 crores. The establishment of cGMP project for manufacturing DPT group of vaccine is underway. The proposed Green field facility for manufacturing of DPT group of vaccines, which is being established, will have total annual installed capacity of 130 million doses (mds).