SBI Ecowrap warns of negative consequences of Indian states negotiating vaccine doses purchase directly

The concerns raised by some chief ministers over the negative consequences of states entering directly into contracts with global vaccine developers to inoculate the citizens are now finding the backing of economists.

The concerns raised by some chief ministers over the negative consequences of states entering directly into contracts with global vaccine developers to inoculate the citizens are now finding the backing of economists. State Bank of India’s group chief economic advisor Soumya Kanti Ghosh in a research paper has warned of the consequences for both rich and poor states if they individually enter the “oligopolistic global vaccine market” The paper says that the increased competition among states may deny poorer states with a high population to vaccinate the public quickly. The indication is that the vaccination process in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh may slow down due to the competition among states.