Following criticism from various quarters, including States and IMA, over the exorbitant prices of the Covid-19 vaccines being offered in the third vaccination drive to begin from May 1, the Centre on Monday asked the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech to lower price of their vaccines.
While the Union Health Ministry refused to comment on the issue, sources said that the two companies are expected to come up with revised pricing for their vaccines. The issue of vaccine pricing was discussed at a meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, said the sources.
Bharat Biotech has fixed the price of Covaxin at Rs600 per dose for State Governments and at Rs1,200 per dose for private hospitals, while SII has offered Covishiled at Rs400 per dose for State Governments and Rs600 for private hospitals.
Both vaccines are available to the central government at a rate of Rs150 per dose.
Under the new vaccine strategy which will cover 18-44 years of age category, the vaccine manufacturers would supply 50 per cent of their monthly Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) released doses to the central government and would be free to supply the remaining 50 per cent doses to state governments and in the open market.
The government had said the manufacturers would have to make an advance declaration of the price for the 50 per cent supply that would be available to the state governments and in the open market.
Many states have objected to different prices for the vaccines, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying this is not time for profiteering while the Congress on Sunday accused the government of allowing vaccine makers to profiteer to the tune of Rs1.11 lakh crore.
The SII has, however, defended pricing Covishield vaccine at 1.5 times the initial rate, saying the earlier price was based on advance funding and now it has to invest in scaling up and expanding capacity to produce more shots. Various doctors including those from the IMA too have slammed the Government for making people pay for what should be offered free of cost to save their lives.
Dr GS Grewal, former president of Punjab Medical Council (PMC) and Dr Arun Mitra, former chairman, Ethical Committee of PMC, said the Prime Minister had some time back stated that all the countrymen will be given vaccines free of cost. “But now, the government is running away from its responsibility. Right from the day one, the government is not serious about controlling the pandemic. The disparity in prices has exposed the slogan of ‘one India one Mandi and one India one ration card,” said Dr Grewal.