Odisha to float global e-tender to buy Covid vaccines

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha will float global e-tender to procure Covid-19 vaccines to inoculate people in the 18-44 years’ age group at a faster pace.
The state cabinet chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik gave its nod to such a proposal on Monday. The cabinet also resolved to move the Centre for exemption of GST on vaccines, medicines and consumables for Covid-19.
After being among the first in country to provide completely free-of-cost treatment for all Covid patients in special covid facilities, both government run and private facilities hired by the government, the Naveen government has also become the first in country to decide for buying vaccines from global market.
Stating that the current pace at which the state has been getting vaccines from the two manufacturers in the country Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India (SII), it will take months to administer the shots to everyone, chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said, “The cabinet approved global e-tender to buy vaccines because faster vaccination is important to face future waves of the pandemic.”
A government officer said the state decided to procure vaccine for the 18-44 years age group because vaccines for people aged 45 years and above is being given by the Centre while the state has announced free shots for people left out by the Centre’s free vaccine programme.
Odisha has 1.93 crore people in the 18-44 year age group. For two doses each, the state needs 3.87 crore doses. The state has placed orders of 2.20 crore Covishield with SII and 10.34 lakh doses Covaxin with Bharat Biotech. However, so far the state has got only 1.5 lakh doses of Covaxin and one lakh Covishield. As a result, the state has not been able to roll out vaccination across the state. While the process has been started in Bhubaneswar, it would start in four more cities of Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela and Sambalpur on Tuesday. There is still uncertainty about starting it in other parts of the state due to short-supply.
“The way COVID has been ravaging through the country and destroying lives and livelihood, quick vaccination is the need of the hour. Vaccines have been found to be effective in saving lives and restoring livelihoods of people,” a senior government officer.
State PSU Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) will soon float the tenders. The government hopes Sputnik V which has already been approved by the Central regulators, and other vaccines which are in the pipeline to be approved, would be available in the state’s bucket of vaccines. The government has decided to form two committees, a technical committee and a managerial committee, to supervise the procurement work.
The state has calculated that at the rate fixed by Bharat Biotech and SII it would pay Rs 1172 crore towards vaccine for 18-44 years age group with GST component of Rs 156.72 crore. For medicines and consumables that the state is buying for Rs 156.72 crore, it would pay GST of Rs 18.80 crore. The GST being a huge amount, the state cabinet resolved to request the Centre to waive it off.