Let's first understand how much does any other vaccine cost in international market, which are made by USA, China and Russia.
American Pfizer/BioNTech - Rs 1,431
Moderna - Rs 2,413-Rs 2,790
Johnson & Johnson - Rs 756.
Sputnik V -Rs 756.
Sinopharm and Sinovac - Rs 2,243
Serum Institute of India offered the vaccine to states for 400 rupees only.
They further reduced it to 300 rupees under extreme pressure.
Undoubtedly, Serum Institute of India, lead by Poonawala is offering it's vaccines at the cheapest price possible. Inpite of doing that, this is what the CEO poonawala gets in return :
- Lack of timely financial support by central government due to red tapism. I am referring to financial aid and not payment for orders.
- Pressure from central government to reduce its prices further and increase the capacity. Central government is already receiving it for 150 rupees per dose which is less than half the price of a chest X Ray.
- Legal suits from many international companies because of not been able to fulfill their orders due to restrictions by Indian Government.
- Central government can use agencies like ED to check their balance sheets and you know what it can mean, if their demands are not met.
- There 42 acre plant in Pune (Maharashtra) may be put on several checks by state government such as pollution control, encroachment outside premises, labour laws etc, if demands of states government are not met. In short, he is a businessman who doesn't deserve so much of unnecessary pressure on him by different parties.
Only central government should directly work with them and allocate doses to states based on the capacity of their factory.
Departure of Poonawalla to London in crisis time talks about the vulnerability of businesses in India. He is not at fault.
And let's also not forget how badly vaccination drive was managed by states and lakhs of vaccines were wasted. Now when everything is out of control, they want Poonawala to throw a magic wand.
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