New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil Monday said the government had responded with alacrity to the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic and was in the process of developing an indigenous vaccine that would be available this year.

'My government responded with alacrity to the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. For the first time in our country an indigenous influenza A (H1N1) vaccine is being developed which will be available this year,' Patil said, addressing a joint sitting of both houses of parliament on the opening day of the budget session.

'New H1N1 testing laboratories were set-up, two crore doses of drugs were distributed to states and 15 lakh vaccines have been imported for health workers,' she said.

The president said the 'quest for good health for all remains a national challenge and there is need to augment the availability of human resources'.