Thread by @_Bikram

The only rationale I can see from this arbitrary decision is to force citizens going to Private Centres (PVCs) to pay the new price (₹600 for covishield and ₹1200 for covaxin). (1/n)

ndtv.com/india-news/pri…

Returning stocks, auditing them, and then reissuing them to state govt providers (SVCs) is a time-consuming process and an utter waste of resources. These 'unused vax' could instead be used to inoculate other eligible populations (18+, second dose for 45+, FLW, HCW, etc) (2/n)

Basically, the central govt is telling citizens that, post 30th April, PVCs will not be able to give jabs @ ₹150 as they were giving before. They'll have to charge full price as decided by #SII and #BharatBiotech (₹600 and ₹1200, respectively).
(3/n)

Add the wasted time in returning and reissuing this stock, it's a completely wasteful exercise... And, for what? So, these companies can make added profits? So the central govt can claim that they're giving free vax whereas SVCs and PVCs are charging? (4/n)

While all this time, people are dying. Cases are exploding. And the medical infrastructure is overwhelmed with patients. This is just one more example of how this govt is not for the people at all. (5/n)

Remember this entire episode - the burning pyres, the fight for hospital beds, for medicines, for oxygen, for vaccines.... Remember this when you next vote in the elections. Remember that the present govt never stood for you. It stood for corporate profits! (6/6)