The Central Government has told the Supreme Court that the new liberalized pricing policy for the COVID-19 vaccine taken on by the Central Government is to make sure magnifying of the vaccine coverage, to incentivize manufacturers of the vaccine to quickly scale up their production and to attract new private vaccine manufacturers. States and private hospitals are to acquire vaccines from other manufacturers at a separate price which would be higher than the price at which the Central Government acquires the vaccine, according to the pricing policy. The submission of the issue was made in an affidavit filed by the government in a suo moto cognizance started off by it to evaluate issues relating to the execution of the COVID-19 crisis in the country.
The scheme, plan and steps taken by the executive with regard to COVID vaccine and other facets are planted on expert medical and scientific aid and after detailed deliberations at the highest executive level, it was contended.
In view of the above, the Central government said that though it is duty-bound to fully assist the Supreme Court, no interference is called for by way of judicial proceedings.
The top court during the hearing on 30th April had also challenged the government on the issue of vaccine pricing and also commented on those vaccines which states have to acquire are way too high in price, to which the Centre replied that the new vaccine strategy is to ensure each state government gets a uniform price for acquiring vaccines to avoid any kind of disproportion.
