The Supreme Court has asked the government about the price of the Corona vaccine, from where the poor people will bring money to buy it. The court has also advised that the central government should adopt a national vaccination model and consider giving free vaccine to all citizens, as poor people will not be able to buy corona vaccine. While hearing the cases related to the current situation of Covid-19 in the country, Justice DY Chandrachud said, “The price issue is very serious”.
Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice L Nageswara Rao and Justice Ravindra Bhat questioned the new procurement policy of vaccines and asked the central government why they do not buy all the vaccines themselves. The court also said that states will have to purchase vaccines at a higher price. The court also asked how the central and state governments will register those who are illiterate or who do not have access to the internet.
Justice DY Chandrachud said, “Today you say that 50 percent (vaccine) received by the center will be vaccinated by frontline workers and people above 45 years of age. The remaining 50 percent will be used by state and private hospitals. 59.46 crore Indians are under 45 years of age and many of them belong to the poor and marginalized category. Where will they get the money to buy the vaccine? ”
Justice DY Chandrachud said, “We know how many vaccines are being produced.” We have to make sure that you (the center) increase the production. There is a need to use public interest powers for additional production units. This view is not meant to criticize the states and the center. We know that health-related infrastructure is inherited from 70 to 100 years. We are concerned about the health structure of our country. ”
The Supreme Court also said that private vaccine producers cannot be empowered to decide which state gets how many vaccines. Significantly, from May 1, all people over 18 years of age are being included in the corona vaccination. In this phase, state governments and private hospitals have been given the right to purchase from producers.
