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