The third phase of vaccination is about to start inIndia. However, before the third phase could commence the questions are beingraised regarding the price of the vaccine. The Serum Institute has announcedthe vaccination price to be Rs 400 per dose for states and Rs 600 per dose forprivate hospitals. Meanwhile, the vaccine will be provided to the Center for Rs150 per dose.
Now, the states have shown concerns over the differentprices of vaccines. State officials alleged that Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman had announced a budget of Rs 35,000 crore for vaccination. Now thecentral government is forcing states to buy vaccines with their own fund.
The serum institute and Bharat Biotech are providingvaccines for Rs 150 per dose to the Central government. If the center receivesvaccines at these prices then the country will have 234 crore vaccine doses inRs 35,000 crore. If single persons get two doses of vaccine then around 117crore people will be vaccinated.
However, there will be an additional logistic charge andprivate hospitals are charging Rs 100 for this. This means that center willhave an extra expenditure of Rs. 11,700 crore.
According to the PM Care Fund website, around 3076.62crores were deposited in year 2019-20. From this fund, around 3100 crores weredistributed, 2000 crores were used in the manufacturing of ventilators.
The interim Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi has written aletter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the letter, she has raised questionson three different prices of vaccines. Whereas, West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjeesaid, “BJP keeps raising the Slogan of One Nation One Party, now why does onevaccine have three different prices.
The country is suffering through the second wave ofcoronavirus pandemic. The health system is collapsing due to a shortage ofoxygen supply and other medical facilities. India is reporting more than 3 lakhcases in a day. Meanwhile, the vaccine is priced at three different rates whichraise concerns over the crashing condition of the nation.