Satya Prakash
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 27
Maintaining that it can’t be a mute spectator during a national crisis, the Supreme Court today asked the Centre to clarify the basis and rationale behind the pricing of Covid-19 vaccines.
“Covaxin” produced by Bharat Biotech would be available at Rs 600 per dose for state governments and at Rs 1,200 per dose for private hospitals, while “Covishield” produced by the Serum Institute of India would be priced at Rs 400 per dose for state governments and Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals from May 1.
However, the Centre is procuring and will continue to procure these vaccines directly from the manufactures at Rs 150 per dose for providing these free of cost at all government facilities to health workers, frontline workers and people above 45 years. At private hospitals, these vaccines cost Rs 250 per dose.
“Different manufacturers are quoting different prices. There are powers under the Patents Act. This is a pandemic and a national crisis,” a three-judge Bench Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice LN Rao and Justice S Ravindra Bhat told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
The top court sought to know how the Centre planned to meet the increased demand for Covid-19 vaccines once vaccination began for all above 18 from May 1, even as it clarified that it didn’t intend to enter the domain of the Executive.
It also asked the Centre to inform it about the steps taken to form a panel of specialists that will be replicated at the state level.
In view of senior advocate Harish Salve’s decision to recuse himself as an Amicus Curiae, the Bench appointed senior advocates Jaideep Gupta and Meenakshi Arora to replace him.
The top court sought to know the projected demand of oxygen in future, supply of drugs, steps taken to augment supplies to affected states and the monitoring mechanism.
It also asked the Centre to apprise it about the modalities for seamless communication between district collectors with the Ministry of Health.
In an affidavit filed in the court, the Centre said the PM was directly involved in the process of ensuring oxygen supply.
Directing the states to file their replies by Thursday 6 pm, the court posted the matter for further hearing on Friday.
It clarified that high courts can continue to hear the cases relating to Covid-19 as they were in a better position to monitor the situation in their respective jurisdiction.
2,00,000 deaths
The total Covid cases stood at 1,76,36,307 on Tuesday morning and toll at 1,97,894 with addition of 2,771 deaths over the past 24 hours. The toll had crossed 2 lakh by the end of the day.
No vax shortage, states have 1 cr doses: Centre
The government on Tuesday said states and UTs had one crore doses available and 80 lakh more would be sent over the next three days. TNS
Marginal dip in cases
India’s daily cases fell marginally from 3,52,991 to 3,23,144 on Tuesday after hitting a new high for six days in a row.