One cannot understand as to why the Government of ours which is a welfare state is not trying to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccine itself on a large scale, says the Allahabad High Court. The court made this statement amid the rampant shortage of vaccine doses across the nation.
A division bench of Justices Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar suggested that big medical companies which are working in the country and may not have their own vaccines may take the formula from just any of the vaccine manufacturers in the world and start producing it.
“Since the vaccine producing countries are advocating for expansion of vaccine manufacturing and distribution to meet the challenge of global health crisis caused by the COVID pandemic and in that process are agreed to the waiver of intellectual property protection, our central agencies may give the green signal to various manufacturers who have the infrastructure to manufacture the vaccines on a large scale so that they may manufacture vaccines of whichever kind they feel suitable,” the court said.
The Bench recommended for the vaccines to be vigorously tested, and only thereafter given out for use to the public. It also suggested that such people who might like to buy the vaccines for the havenots, may be allowed to do so and may also be given certain benefits under the Income Tax Act. “In the global tenders, the Government after getting the reasonable prices may negotiate with the world manufacturers and try to buy as many vaccines as can be bought from wherever the vaccines are available,” it said. “Big business houses who take various advantages under the taxation laws by donating to various religious organizations may be asked to divert their funds to vaccines.”
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In this regard, the Court ordered the Centre to submit a report by the next date.
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