Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Wednesday said that the Central Government's order of capping of COVID vaccines prices at private hospitals is hasty and late.
Sidhu, reacting to the Central Government’s latest decision to cap the vaccine prices, said that this decision was taken at much later stage when private hospitals had already made huge profits in the vaccination process while BJP leaders raised the false allegations that Punjab Government is making profit by supplying the vaccines to private hospitals.
Responding on the latest decision of the Union Government to take all the purchase of vaccine under its purview, the Minister said that the State or UT Governments do not enjoy the unique position of the Centre, which has the advantage of being a monopolistic buyer and can negotiate an appropriate price for the vaccines on behalf of the entire population of India as GoI was getting the Covishield vaccine at price of Rs 150 per dose whereas State Government was getting at Rs 315 including GST for same vaccine.
The Minister also advised the Modi Government that they must administer free vaccines to all sections of societies as BJP had announced in many State elections that free COVID vaccines would be provided to all. Keeping in view of administering free vaccines to all, the GoI should abolish the 25 percent quota allocated to private players.
Health Minister further urged the Modi Government that they should refund all payments made by State Governments for COVID vaccines under the new policy.
Lashing out at the Union Government for blaming Punjab Government raising profits by supplying vaccines to private hospitals, the Minister said that considering the vaccine policy of the Central Government, the State Government decided to prioritize the poor and most deserving sections, initially only persons with co-morbidities, construction labour and families of healthcare workers.
The Minister clarified that fixing the rate of any vaccine as well as medicine falls under the Centre’s purview and latest instructions regarding capping of vaccine prices at private hospitals have been issued to all Deputy Commissioners and Civil Surgeons to ensure the compliance.