Covid Vaccine Price Row: The central government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court late night on Sunday stating explaining why there is a difference in price for Covid vaccine and how it will have no impact on the citizens.
The Centre said in its affidavit that its vaccination policy had been framed to ensure 'equitable distribution' while considering the reality that it is not possible to vaccinate the entire country in one go due to the suddenness of the pandemic and the police has been framed keeping in view with the limited availability of vaccines.
The policy was “just, equitable, non-discriminatory and based upon an intelligible differentiating factor between the two age groups (45 plus and those below)”, it said.
According to its affidavit, the Centre has placed large orders as opposed to those to states and private hospitals. It also added that when it comes to states, the prices are uniform for all. The price factor, will not have any impact on the ultimate beneficiary, which are the eligible citizens getting the vaccine, since all state governments have announced their policy decisions of distributing the vaccine for free.
The centre said in its affidavit, "The policy thus, conforms to mandate of Article 14 and Article 21 of the Constitution of India and is made after several rounds of consultation and discussion with experts, State Government and vaccine manufacturers…”.
The policy requires “no interference by this Hon’ble Court as while dealing with a pandemic of this magnitude, the Executive does have a room for free play in the joints public interest”, it said.
Several states and Opposition parties had been raising questions as to why there is a price disparity in vaccines across India. States have also asked why they have to pay a different price to the manufacturer from the Centre.
The Supreme Court had last week directed the Centre to reconsider vaccine prices on grounds that it would harm the public's right to health.
On April 30, the Supreme Court, while hearing a suo motu matter with regard to Covid-19 management issues had said that “the manner in which the current policy has been framed would prima facie result in a detriment to the right to public health, which is an integral element of Article 21 of the Constitution.”
(with PTI inputs)