Bharat Biotech denies any wrongdoing over Brazil Covaxin deal
The Hindu
Firms says it followed routine ‘step-by-step approach’
Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech on Wednesday asserted that it had followed a routine ‘step-by-step approach’ towards getting contracts and regulatory approvals for supply of the vaccine in Brazil and added that it had neither received any advance payments nor supplied any vaccines to the South American country’s Health Ministry. Reacting to media reports, including a Rio De Janeiro-datelined news report in which Reuters cited Brazil’s Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga announcing the suspension of a $324-million Indian vaccine contract in the wake of allegations of irregularity linked to President Jair Bolsonaro, the Hyderabad-based company laid out the timeline of developments related to its efforts to supply the vaccine to Brazil. Stating that discussions with the Brazilian Ministry had begun in November 2020, Bharat Biotech said that over the course of eight months, a step-by-step approach, similar to what was observed in other countries where the company sought approvals, had been followed. Subsequently, Covaxin received emergency use authorisation in Brazil on June 4.More Related News