Modi govt allowing vaccine makers to make profit of Rs 1.11 lakh crore, alleges Congress

New Delhi: The Congress accused that the Centre is allowing vaccine makers to profit of Rs 1.11 lakh crore and termed the new COVID vaccine policy “discriminatory and insensitive”.

Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala in a online conference alleged that the government has abdicated its responsibility of providing free vaccines to the poor and the youth of the country.

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‘Vaccine Profiteering’ must end! ‘One Nation, Five Vaccine Prices’ is unacceptable!! Is Modi Government complicit in vaccine profiteering of Rs.1,11,100 crore? ‘Vaccine Development’ & ‘Mass Immunization’ were neither ‘Events’ nor ‘PR Exercises’, but are important milestones in the service of the people. Corona vaccination is an important ‘Public Service’ and can never be a ‘Business Opportunity’ for profiteering at the cost of our people in the middle of the pandemic. Modi government has introduced the most discriminatory and insensitive vaccination policy in the entire world. Modi government is guilty of permitting brazen profiteering of vaccination. Modi government is also guilty of abdicating its responsibility and abandoning the young of India between the ages of 18-45 years.

Let us examine the important facets

1. Modi Government’s vaccination policy has abandoned India’s young between the ages of 18-45 years by clearly stating that Government of India takes no responsibility for their vaccination. They have to get themselves vaccinated or the onus lies upon the State governments to do so from their own resources. Incidentally, India’s population below 45 years is 74.35% of total population i.e. 101 crores.
2. Modi Government’s vaccination policy has, therefore deregulated 50% production of the two vaccine manufacturers i.e. Serum Institute of India 2 (Covishield) and Bharat Biotech (Covaxin) as free from price regulation all together. The vaccine policy of Modi Government has permitted the two vaccine manufacturers to fix the prices for supply to State governments and to private institutions by their own volition.
3. The two vaccine manufacturers have now released an absolutely discriminatory pricing policy. Serum Institute of India, producer of Covishield, has fixed the price per dose for supply to Central government at Rs.150, to State government at Rs.400 and to private hospitals at Rs.600. Bharat Biotech, the producer of Covaxin, has fixed an entirely different range of prices i.e. price per doze to Central government Rs.150, to State government Rs.600 and to private hospitals Rs.1,200. Needless to add that the cost will be doubled as two doses of vaccines are required for every person.
4. The population below 45 years of age is 101 crores. To vaccinate them, we need 202 crore doses. Cost of these will have to be borne by the States or the individuals themselves.

Based on this and assuming that States will provide 50% of the vaccination and individuals will bear 50% of the vaccination cost, the profit of the two vaccine manufacturers – Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech will be Rs.1,11,100 crore. (Please see calculation sheet Annexure A.1).

5. The Modi Government should realise that proportion of people of India classified as poor or BPL (Below Poverty Line) is 28% (UNDP). Even as per 2011 census, 31 crore of India’s population comprises of SC/STs. The Government should be aware that nearly 41% of India’s population comprises of the Backward Classes. The Government should be aware that 81.35 crore people are eligible for subsidised ration under Food Security Act (PIB Press Release Dated 19th July, 2019). Will the SC, ST, BC, OBC, BPL, APL, Poor & underprivileged get the vaccine free or not?

Simple question is, how can such brazen vaccine profiteering be permitted? Why is Modi Government complicit in this profiteering in the times of pandemic?