The Government of India's procurement price of both the COVID-19 vaccines remains Rs 150 per dose and the Centre will continue to provide totally free to states, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Replying to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Ministry of Health said in a tweet "#Unite2FightCorona It is clarified that Govt of India's procurement price for both #COVID19 vaccines remains Rs 150 per dose. GOI procured doses will continue to provide TOTALLY FREE to States. @PMOIndia @drharshvardhan @AshwiniKChoubey @DDNewslive @PIB_India @mygovindia."
Earlier today Congress leader Jairam Ramesh by sharing a newspaper article which reads 'Serum's Rs 600/dose for Covishield in pvt hospital is its highest rate the world over' and said in a tweet "COVISHIELD @ Rs 400 for new government procurement is higher than what govts of US, UK, EU, Saudi, Bangladesh & SA pay. Made in India & highest price for India? By SII's own admission profits made even at Rs150. Prices must be renegotiated @PMOIndia @nsitharaman @drharshvardhan."
The statement from the government came after several political leaders slammed the central government for providing Covishield vaccine at Rs 400 per dose for state governments and Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals.
India recorded 3,46,786 new coronavirus cases, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic broke out last year. According to the official data issued by the Union Health Ministry, the country has recorded 2,624 new deaths due to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
The country's total infection count has mounted to 1,66,10,481 cases, while 1,89,544 people have succumbed to the viral infection so far. Currently, there are 25,52,940 active cases of COVID-19 in the country, said the official data of the ministry. As many as 1,38,67,997 recoveries reported so far, out of which 2,19,838 reported in the last 24 hours. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 27,61,99,222 samples tested for COVID-19 up to April 23. Of these, 17,53,569 tested yesterday. Meanwhile, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in the country stands at 13,83,79,832.
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