The Indian National Congress (INC) slammed the Central Government for their recently announced vaccination policy for the third phase.
On the 19th of April, the Government of India allowed vaccination for people above 18 years old from the 1st of May. In addition, the Central Government also allowed manufacturer like the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech International Private Limited, to set prices for providing vaccine doses to State Government and private hospitals across India.
Reacting to the new arrangements of the vaccination drive, Rahul Gandhi, the former President of the INC, compared the vaccination drive to demonetisation. He said different pricing of vaccinations are discriminatory and would benefit only a “few big industrialists” while common people will suffer.
He took to Twitter and said, “Disaster of the country, opportunity for friends of Modi. Injustice of the central government,”
He used hashtags like “#VaccineDiscrimination” He added, “Rahul Gandhi said, “The Central Government’s vaccine strategy is no less than the demonetisation. The common people will stand in queues, will suffer loss of wealth, health and life and in the end only a few big industrialists will benefit.”
The statement of Rahul Gandhi came after the SII announced prices of Covisheild, a COVID-19 vaccination. The Serum Institute of India, on the 21st of April, fixed Rs. 400 for government hospitals and Rs. 600 for private hospitals from the 1st of May.
Meanwhile, during a press conference, Ajay Maken, a senior spokesperson of the INC, also criticised the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, “This is very unfortunate and we have asked for one nation, one price for vaccine. There should be same price for vaccines to central and state governments.” He further added, “This is something that is going to put our youth and poor in a disadvantageous position. This is discriminatory. The Centre should ensure that vaccine manufacturers are adequately compensated.”
He feared there would be chaos in the country from the 1st of May for vaccination.
Emphasising how the new policy on vaccination drive would burden States, Mr. Ajay Maken cited an example. He said if Rajasthan has to vaccinate half its population of 4 crore people, it will have to shell out Rs. 3,200 crore. “How will states bring the finances.”
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also criticised the Central Government saying the Centre getting the vaccine at Rs. 150 per dose and states at Rs. 400 is no cooperative federalism. He demanded the Centre and state governments pay the same price for the COVID-19 vaccine. He said, “We demand one nation, one price for Centre and state governments.”
Another Congress leader P. Chidambaram said,”Who will pay Rs. 400 for one dose in government hospitals? The state government or the beneficiary? How many persons between 18 and 44 years can afford to pay Rs 400 per dose? Will the beneficiary be burdened with the cost.”
The third phase of the Nationwide vaccination drive is set to begin from the 1st of May.
Stay tuned for further updates.
