On 31 May, the Supreme Court asked the central government tough questions about accessing the ‘Dual Policy’ and the Covin platform for the purchase of Covid Vaccine. The court was hearing a case of self-cognition on Covid Management. The court said that the vaccine should have the same price in the whole country.
The Supreme Court asked the Center why the states had to pay more for the Covid vaccine. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Justice Nageswara Rao and Justice Ravindra Bhat asked for a ‘uniform pricing policy’ for the vaccine.
Justice Chandrachud said, “The Center says that it buys more doses so it pays a lower price. If this is the logic then why are the states paying more money? Vaccine prices should be the same in the whole country.”
‘Why Center not giving 100% dose for 18+‘
The Supreme Court asked the Center that when it is providing 100% dosage to the states for 45+ age group, why is it giving only 50 percent dose for 18-44.
The court said. “For 18-44, 50 percent of the states are buying from the manufacturers at the fixed price of the center and the rest will be given to private hospitals. What is the basis of this?”
“Your argument was that deaths are increasing in the 45+ group, but in the second wave this age group was not seriously affected. This time there is a group of 18-44. If the motive is to buy the vaccine, then why would the center buy only for 45+? ”
The Supreme Court also questioned the registration for vaccines in rural areas. The court asked the government questions on the ‘digital divide’. “For rural areas, you say that villagers can register on the Covin app through NGO. Many of our law clerks and secretaries have tried to register on the app, so we know how it works.”
Justice Chandrachud said that if the court had to do it, it would have done it 15 days ago, but it wants the Center to understand the situation as to what is happening in the country.
