PM Modi announces reverting to old vaccine procurement policy

Modi said that his government had dealt with the challenges of resources on a war footing to deal with a “once in a century” pandemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that India would revert to a system of centralized procurement of vaccines against COVID-19, with 25% of procurement kept open for private sector, and that this system will be operationalized from June 21. He said this during a televised broadcast to the country and cited letters by chief ministers of several States demanding the same before announcing the decision. He announced a cap of ₹150 on the amount private hospitals can charge over the cost of the purchase of the vaccine from the manufacturer. He also announced the extension of the free ration distribution scheme for 80 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana till the festival of Diwali, in November.