Facing backlash over the pricing of its vaccine, Bharat Biotech, the manufacturer of Covaxin, on Tuesday, 15 June, said that the current price at which the vaccine is being supplied to the central government is not sustainable. A higher price for the private market is required to offset the costs, the company added.
“The supply price of COVAXIN to the Government of India at Rs 150/dose, is a non-competitive price and clearly not sustainable in the long run. Hence, a higher price in private markets is required to offset part of the costs.”Bharat Biotech
While the company has kept 50 percent of its capacity reserved for the Centre's rollout, the other half is for state and private payers.
"In such a scenario the weighted average price of COVAXIN for all supplies realised by Bharat Biotech is less than Rs 250 per dose. Going forward, 75 percent of the capacity will be supplied to State and Central Governments with only 25 percent going to private hospitals," the Hyderabad-based company said.
Citing other examples, the company stated:
“Rotavirus vaccines are supplied to the Government of India at Rs 60 per dose, but is also available in the private market at Rs 1,700 per dose. The prices for COVID-19 vaccines internationally have varied between USD 10 to USD 37 per dose, ( Rs 730-Rs 2,700 per dose).”
In April, the company had announced that it will sell the vaccine at Rs 600 per dose to state governments and Rs 1,200 per dose to private hospitals. This was slashed to Rs 400 per dose to states.
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