Lok Sabha Question No. 62 (STARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Global Tenders for Procurement of Corona Virus Vaccines
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Pritam Gopinath Munde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.62 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 23 RD JULY , 2021

## GLOBAL TENDERS FOR PROCUREMENT OF CORONA VIRUS VACCINES

## *62. SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE: DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  global  tenders  bei floated by the State Governments for procurement of Corona viru s vaccine and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  global  supply  of  vaccines already constrained and other countries are still in the process of receiv they had ordered in advance and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whetherthereis any guarantee that global suppliers can meet the deman of the States in India and if not, the response of the Government thereto;
- (d) whether the indigenous  vaccine  manufacturers  have  assured  the Government to meet the demand of vaccine in the country within specific t span; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government theret also the action taken in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## ( SHRI MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a)

to(e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 62 FOR 2 3 RD JULY, 2021

…..

(a) to (e): Yes, it has come to the notice of  the Government of India t some  States  have    floated  global  tenders  for  procurement  of  COVID - 19 vaccines.  Such  tenders  were  placed  by  State  Governments  in  May  2021. Multiple and repeated demands were made by States/UTs to the Government of India that they be allowed to procure vaccines directly and administer t per  their  requirements.  However,  none  of  the  tenders  floated  by  any Government materialized into procurement of Covid vaccines from any vaccin manufacturers including offshore manufacturers.

Later  on,  many  States  communicated  to  the  Government  of  India  tha they were facing difficulties in managing the funding, and logistics of procurement of Covid vaccines. This in turn impacted the pace of the National COVID Vaccination Program. Keeping in view the repeated requests receive from  States,  and  the  experience  gained,  the  Guidelines  for  National  CO Vaccination Program were reviewed and 'Revised Guidelines for Implementation of National COVID Vaccination Program' were issued on 8th June  2021,  to  be  effective  from  21st  June  2021.  In  accordance  with  t guidelines,  Government  of  India  is  procuring  75%  of  the  vaccines  be produced  by  the  vaccine  manufacturers  in  the  country.    These  vaccines e provided  free  of  cost  to  States/UTs  on  the  basis  of  their  pro - rata  target population and consumption pattern as well as vaccine wastage.

The Government of India is aware of the global demand supply gap du to  which  many  countries  are  facing  difficulties in  procuring  COVID - 19 vaccines for their eligible population. Accordingly, many steps have been to augment the domestic manufacturing capacity of COVID - 19 vaccines. These include advance payments for vaccine procurement to M/s Serum Institute Indi a  and  M/s  Bharat  Biotech,  support  to  M/s  Bharat  Biotech  and  3  Publ Sector Enterprises  (PSEs)  under  'Mission  COVID  Suraksha -the  Indian COVID -19  Vaccine  Development  Mission',  technology  transfer  of  Covaxin production, financial assistance to one of the do mestic vaccine manufacturer i.e Biological E for 'At -risk manufacturing' and streamlining of regulatory norms for  approval  of  vaccines.  These  steps  will  facilitate  availability  of quantity of COVID - 19 vaccine.

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