State to save Rs 6,500 cr
The Maha Vikas Aghadi government on Monday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of free vaccines for those above 18 years of age. The government further stated that it had objected to the fragmented system of vaccination and had urged the Centre in the past for bulk vaccine procurement and distribution to the states.
The biggest relief for the state government is that it will not have to shell out Rs 6,500 crore to procure 12 crore vaccine doses to inoculate the nearly 6 crore people in the 18-44 years category. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had announced free vaccination for this group despite the financial crunch being faced by the state. He had repeatedly declared his government was prepared to pay the entire cost for the procurement of 12 crore doses to the Centre in one go.
The government now hopes to resume vaccinations for the 18-44 group, which had been currently suspended for want of sufficient doses. Additional Chief Secretary Pradeep Vyas, Public Health, told The Free Press Journal, “The state government had requested the Centre to supply vaccines through Central procurement.
The issue is not of cost but the wherewithal of state government to negotiate with foreign companies and entities and not being certain of the veracity of middlemen and so-called distributors. This move will avert unnecessary competition between states and also within the state, amongst various parastatals and municipal corporations.” The government is also happy that it can now expect adequate supply of doses from the Centre, especially after its flopped attempt to invite bids from the global suppliers. The state government did not receive any response while the BrihanMumbai Municipal chief rejected nine bids on technical grounds. Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Sunday that the government had initiated talks with the distributor of the Russian vaccine producer Sputnik and expected a large supply by July-August. However, in the light of the announcement by the Prime Minister on Monday, the government was not likely to go for it. Maharashtra continues to top the list of states for most vaccinations, since the drive was launched on January 16. As of 7am on Monday, the state had vaccinated a record 2,41,15,999 citizens. On Sunday, the state had inoculated 89,916 people in 729 sessions. A public health department official said the government expected to further increase the pace of vaccination if the Centre would supply adequate doses.