RAJ HC SEEKS REPLY FROM CENTRE, STATE OVER COVID-19 VACCINE PRICING

JODHPUR: The Rajasthan high court has sought responses from the central and state governments, and vaccine manufacturers Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, on a petition challenging differential pricing of the vaccine for the Centre and the state, saying such pricing would hamper the national vaccination strategy.

A division bench of justices Sabina and MK Vyas passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Mukesh Sharma.

The petition questioned the difference in pricing for the Centre and the states. Both vaccine makers sold their doses to the Centre at ₹150 a shot. Subsequently, in Phase 3, where states have to procure vaccines from the makers, the companies announced a price of Rs 400 per dose for states (Covishield; Serum Institute) and ₹600 a dose (Covaxin; Bharat Biotech). On Wednesday, SII reduced this to ₹300 a dose and on Thursday, Bharat Biotech to ₹400 a dose.

The petitioner said the prices quoted by manufacturers are not just higher but extremely discriminatory and arbitrary. chief minister Ashok Gehlot last week announced that the state will bear the cost of vaccination of all those above the age of 18 years. Most other states have made similar announcements. The court set May 12 as the next date of hearing.

In another case, the high court issued notices to the Centre and the state government on alleged discrimination in the supply of medical oxygen and lifesaving injections to the state. The court will hear that matter on Friday. A division bench of Chief Justice Inderjit Mohanty and justice Inderjit Singh, heard the petition filed by advocate Poonam Chand Bhandari, and asked the Centre and the state to respond. “As compared to other states, the supply of oxygen support system, liquid oxygen and lifesaving injections has been much less in Rajasthan...,” claimed Bhandari’s petition.