There's something VERY FISHY going on with Covid-19 testing kits in India. Prima facie, it reeks of corruption & favoritism in a pandemic.
Thread 👇
On 20th March, 18 firms got permission from govt. to get their testing kits validated by National Institute of Virology.
(1/6)
Thread 👇
On 20th March, 18 firms got permission from govt. to get their testing kits validated by National Institute of Virology.
(1/6)
Meanwhile, a day earlier on 19th, Gujarat-based firm CoSara had already received an approval to start manufacturing Covid-19 test kits. This firm is a collaboration between a US-based company & an Ahmedabad-based firm.
CoSara's kits already have US FDA approval.
(2/6)
CoSara's kits already have US FDA approval.
(2/6)
Some of the other 18 firms who were waiting to get their Covid-19 test kits validated said that these would be sold at a price of 400-500 per kit (far cheaper than imported ones).
CoSara, on the other hand, refused to publicly divulge the cost of their Covid-19 kits.
(3/6)
CoSara, on the other hand, refused to publicly divulge the cost of their Covid-19 kits.
(3/6)
Suddenly, on 21st March, the Health Ministry issued guidelines allowing private labs to conduct Covid-19 tests. The cost of these is capped at a whopping 4500 rupees.
These guidelines have one caveat - ONLY testing kits approved by US FDA/European CE can be used.
(4/6)
These guidelines have one caveat - ONLY testing kits approved by US FDA/European CE can be used.
(4/6)
That means ONLY kits manufactured by Ahmedabad-based CoSara can be used for Covid-19 testing.
So after allowing 18 firms to test their kits for production, the Modi govt. suddenly changed guidelines to favor ONLY 1 Ahmedabad company (whose testing kit cost is unknown).
(5/6)
So after allowing 18 firms to test their kits for production, the Modi govt. suddenly changed guidelines to favor ONLY 1 Ahmedabad company (whose testing kit cost is unknown).
(5/6)
Why is a Gujarat-based firm being provided a monopoly on Covid-19 testing kits by suddenly tweaking guidelines overnight?
Why are 18 firms who can produce testing kits for very cheap prices being blocked by these sudden new guidelines?
I've filed an RTI to get more info
(6/6)
Why are 18 firms who can produce testing kits for very cheap prices being blocked by these sudden new guidelines?
I've filed an RTI to get more info
(6/6)
Here’s a report from the Times of India on this published a couple of hours ago:
m.timesofindia.com/india/indian-t…
m.timesofindia.com/india/indian-t…
Update: Today after they got caught, the ICMR conducted a press briefing where they said that US FDA/European CE approval is not required for testing kits.
However, here’s Ministry of Health guidelines from Saturday that state otherwise.
Such a lovely u-turn
However, here’s Ministry of Health guidelines from Saturday that state otherwise.
Such a lovely u-turn
