MUMBAI: Private hospital chains across the country, including the Chennai-based Apollo group and Delhi-based
Fortis Healthcare, and Mumbai-based Hinduja Hospital, are discussing modalities to offer foreign-manufactured vaccines like
Pfizer and Moderna in India, following the relaxation in government guidelines recently.
“We have had preliminary discussions with Pfizer, and are awaiting clarity on their plans’’, Anil Vinayak, group COO, Fortis Healthcare confirmed, when contacted by TOI.
A final structure will emerge only after the company applies for fast-track approvals here, and is cleared by the Indian regulator.
Amidst huge shortages and rising infections, the government recently fast tracked access to vaccines by allowing foreign-manufactured jabs to be imported, by doing away with bridging trial studies prior to regulatory approval. Vaccines approved by Western regulators including the
USFDA, UK’s MHRA & WHO will be granted emergency authorisation in India, with the company conducting post-approval parallel bridging studies in place of local clinical trials.
With the Covid-19 scenario becoming serious in India, private hospitals are getting frantic calls from the well-heeled.
Large hospitals chain like Apollo are figuring out the process after they received several inquiries on both Pfizer and Moderna jabs. “We are in talks internally, and are working out the modalities. The process could take a few months”, a senior company official told TOI.
Enquiries particularly for the Pfizer vaccine have gone up since the government relaxation, Joy Chakraborty COO of Mumbai-based PD Hinduja Hospital said, “we are looking for vaccines of the Western world, which can complement indigenous vaccines”.
The vaccines can be imported in ready-to-use vials or in a fill-and-use form, according to the government. Further, private hospitals have started talks with companies including
Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech and Dr Reddy’s to place orders for vaccines.