TN flags ‘unfair’ differential worth mechanism, urges Centre to provide vaccine doses

Flagging the ‘unfair’ differential worth mechanism for COVID-19 vaccines to be procured by the Centre and the state governments, Tamil Nadu stated on Monday this locations a better monetary burden on states and urged the Centre to provide the doses.
States have a authentic expectation that the Government of India would provide the COVID-19 vaccine in section 3, Chief Minister Okay Palaniswami stated.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi forward of the third section of inoculation drive protecting throughout 18 years, from May 1, he advised Centre “could also explore alternative sources of supply of vaccine including possible imports to ensure that the vaccine rollout takes place across the country smoothly and expeditiously in the coming weeks.”
The Union Health Ministry has introduced a brand new coverage to be adopted within the subsequent section of Covid-19 vaccination within the nation whereby states have been given the accountability to obtain and administer vaccine to the individuals within the age group of 18 to 45, he stated.
This vaccine could be procured by state governments at pre-determined costs from the producers.
“This price would be distinctly different from the price that the Government of India has been paying for the vaccines supply. Some manufacturers have already announced a higher increased rate for procurement by state governments,” the chief minister stated.
Such a differential worth mechanism is “inherently unfair” because it positioned a better monetary burden on states, Palaniswami contended.

“It is also iniquitous since the state governments have considerably less fiscal resources at their command than the central government.”
“Further, since budgetary provision of Rs 35,000 crore has been made in the Budget Estimates for 2021-22 for the Covid-19 vaccination programme, states have a legitimate expectation that the Government of India would supply the Covid-19 vaccine (in) phase 3,” he added.
Palaniswami requested the Centre to obtain and provide the whole required amount of vaccine for administering all teams together with these within the age group of 18-45.
Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), maker of probably the most used Covid-19 vaccine within the nation, Covishield, had lately introduced a worth of Rs 600 per dose for personal hospitals and Rs 400 per dose for state governments and for any new contract by the central authorities.
It at present expenses the central authorities Rs 150 per dose for the present provides.
Similarly, Bharat Biotech, the Hyderabad-headquartered agency making Covaxin, had priced its COVID-19 vaccine at Rs 600 per dose for state governments and at Rs 1,200 per dose for personal hospitals.