NEW DELHI, May 31: The government on Monday faced several tough questions about its Covid vaccination policy, with the Supreme Court flagging “various flaws” in an inoculation drive criticised for differential pricing, shortage of doses, and lack of access from rural areas of the country.
The court was told the government expects to vaccinate all of India by end-2021, to which it highlighted roadblocks, including discrepancy in vaccine supply for different age groups.
The centre has been given two weeks to respond to these issues and concerns.
“For entire population above 45, centre is procuring (vaccines) but for 18-44 there is bifurcation of procurement – 50 per cent available to states by manufacturers and price is fixed by the centre, and rest to be given to private hospitals. What is the (actual) basis for this?” the court had asked.
“Your rationale was high mortality in 45+ group (but) in the second wave this group is not seriously affected… it is 18-44. If purpose is to procure vaccines, why should the centre procure only for over 45?” a three-member bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, LN Rao and S Ravindra Bhat had asked.
Data last week showed that nearly 50 per cent of Covid cases between May 1-24 were from the 18-40 group – from 49.70 per cent between May 1-7 to 47.84 per cent between May 22-24.
The court also asked why states had to pay more for the vaccines than the centre.
“Why has the government left it to manufacturers to fix price of vaccines? Centre has to take over responsibility of one price for the nation,” the court had stressed, pointing to “price-fixing powers”.
Under the centre’s new “liberalised” policy, which came into effect May 1, states can buy up to 50 per cent of their vaccine needs from manufacturers, although at higher prices than that fixed for the centre.
Private hospitals have to pay even higher prices.
The differential pricing sparked furious protest, with the opposition Congress accusing the centre of “vaccine profiteering” and sarcastically reminding it of its “one nation, one price” war cry.
Shortage of COVID-19 vaccine doses has slowed down the pace of vaccination in the country
Manufacturers Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech eventually reduced the prices, but they are still well above the ₹ 150 per dose that the centre pays. States have complained about the differential pricing, pointing out they are already suffering from the financial impact of the pandemic.
The centre was also asked about global tenders being floated by some states, including Delhi, to offset what they say is limited supply of vaccines from the centre, particularly for the 18-44 age group.
“Please do not go into this issue on global tender. Some corporations (and) states have floated global tenders. This question is academic,” the centre had said.
(Courtesy: ndtv.com)