The similar suggestion was earlier made by the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Delhi, Uddhav Thackeray and Arvind Kejriwal.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, at a time when vaccine shortage has caused inoculation drive to slow down or halt in many states, said more companies should be given the license to manufacture anti-Covid shots.
At a virtual meeting with Vice Chancellors of universities, Mr Gadkari said: “If the demand is more than the supply it creates problems. Instead of one, let 10 more companies be given the license for vaccine manufacture…and royalty too.”
The vaccine formulae should be shared with labs across the country to scale up production, the Road Transport Minister said. The similar suggestion was earlier made by the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Delhi, Uddhav Thackeray and Arvind Kejriwal.
“I am sure there are two-three labs in each state that have the capability and infrastructure. Share the formula and coordinate with them to increase production. Let them supply in country and later if there’s surplus, they can export stocks. This can be done in 15-20 days: This can be done to resolve the vaccine shortage,” Mr Gadkari said.
#WATCH | If vaccine demand is more than supply it creates problem. Instead of 1, let 10 more companies be given license for vaccine manufacture…Let them supply in country & later if there's surplus, they may export. It can be done in 15-20 days: Union Min Nitin Gadkari (18.05) pic.twitter.com/gVOqMuVRNr
— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2021
The Union Minister’s suggestion invited sharp response from senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who referred to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April on the Covid crisis. “This is what Dr. Manmohan Singh had suggested on April 18th. But is his Boss listening?” Mr Ramesh tweeted.
But is his Boss listening? This is what Dr. Manmohan Singh had suggested on April 18th. https://t.co/iqgPgJJ6Y7
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 19, 2021
According to health ministry data, only about 141 million – around 10 per cent of the population — have received at least one vaccine dose. Just over 40 million people are fully vaccinated.
Vaccine doses will rise to 51.6 crore by July and more than 200 crore between August and December, from domestic production and imports, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said. Currently, the government is dependent on Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin to make the ends meet. Russia’s Sputnik V has also been made available.
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