Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday iterated that more pharmaceutical companies should be given the allowance for manufacturing Covid-19 vaccines for the requirement of the country during the pandemic crisis.
During a virtual meeting, Gadkari said, “If the demand of the vaccine is more than the supply, it creates the problem. So, instead of one company, let 10 more companies be given the license to manufacture the vaccine.”
He also said, “There are 2-3 laboratories in every state. They should be given the formula to produce the COVID-19 vaccines. They can give royalty.”
“Let them supply in the country and later if there is surplus, they may export. It can be done in 15-20 days.”
Presently, only two pharma companies in the country – Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and Pune-based Serum Institute of India are involved in the manufacturing of the vaccines Covaxin and Covishield respectively and INdia has given approval to only three vaccines. The third one being the Russian vaccine Sputnik V.
National spokesperson of Congress, Jaiveer Shergill stated the complete nation is in need of the vaccines and BJP is supplying fake kits over shortage of vaccines comment by Gadkari. Shergill tweeted, “Mr Gadkari says to solve vaccine demand-supply issue more manufacturing licenses should be given. The problem is – Nation is demanding vaccines, BJP is supplying fake tool kits. Good to know at least one BJP minister is waking up to reality – how many more have to die to wake up the system.”
