Punjab Withdraws Order To Supply Vaccines To Private Hospitals

Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has alleged doses purchased at ₹ 400 were sold to private hospitals for ₹ 1,060, and that these were then sold to people at ₹ 1,560

The Punjab government has withdrawn an order providing "one time limited vaccine doses to 18-44 age group population through private hospitals" after a massive political row, sparked by allegations from the Akali Dal it was "diverting" Covaxin doses at "hefty margins". A brief letter - signed by Vikas Garg, the state-in-charge for vaccination - said the order "has not been taken in the right spirit and is hereby withdrawn". "Further, it has been decided that the private hospitals should return forthwith all the vaccine doses available with them. The doses which they have utilised as of date should also be returned, once they get supplies from the manufacturers," the order added. Hours earlier, the Union Health Ministry had asked the state to respond to the allegations.