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States profiteering on procurement of vaccines: Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri

Jun 05,2021

Union Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday accused the Opposition-ruled states of profiteering on the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines and claimed the vaccines are being sold at higher prices.

In a press conference, the minister cited the data provided by Vikas Garg, an official of the Punjab government who is also in-charge of Covid vaccination program. Puri said the figures provided by Garg on May 29 suggest that 4.29 lakh doses of Covishield were procured for Rs 13.25 crores, which makes the average price of a dose Rs 309. Also, 14,190 doses of Covaxine were procured for Rs 4.70 crore, with a single dose priced at Rs 412.

However, the minister then claimed that Covishield is being sold at private hospitals for Rs 1,000 and above.

"The Centre has distributed 50 per cent of vaccines to states and UTs to vaccinate people without any cost. States are profiteering on their own procurement," he said.

The minister said it was "shameful" that the state government was trying to make a profit from this and it shows the "incompetence" of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's administration.

"When we raised it, Captain said withdraw the order, which tells you the order was fishy. Why was the decision taken in the first place?" he said.
Targeting the Congress, Puri said, "Rahul Gandhi ji asks where is the vaccine for our children. That vaccine is in the garbage in Rajasthan and profits are being made on that vaccine in Punjab. This is the culture of Congress."