Importing Covid-19 vaccines: No permission yet for private sector
Manufacturers prefer govt-govt purchasing: Dr. Sudarshini
Expresses concern over pvt. sector black mkt price hikes
The Government is yet to take a decision to permit the private sector to import Covid-19 vaccines, The Sunday Morning learnt.
State Minister of Primary Healthcare, Epidemics, and Covid Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle told The Sunday Morning yesterday (1) that vaccine manufacturers prefer government-to-government purchases.
When queried as to whether this was discussed recently at Covid-19-related meetings, Dr. Fernandopulle noted that none of the Government Task Force meetings held so far to discuss Covid-19-related matters had discussed granting permission to the private sector to bring down Covid-19 vaccines.
She added also that it was too early to permit the private sector to bring down vaccines because vaccine production is limited and also because if the private sector purchased vaccines from the black market, there would be a higher possibility of a drastic increase in the prices.
As of now, the Government will keep the responsibility of bringing down the vaccines, State Minister Dr. Fernandopulle said, adding however that in the future, the Government will consider permitting the private sector to be involved in the vaccination process.
