SAPM promises transparency in procuring vaccine

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan said on Friday the government would procure Covid-19 vaccine on the basis of transparent scientific data about its efficacy and safety.

Speaking to a private news channel on Friday, he said that six major international pharmaceutical companies are at the forefront of developing the coronavirus vaccine. However, he added that the company that would present scientific research data in a transparent manner will be approached.

According to the special assistant to prime minister, provision of low-cost and quality vaccine to the people was the government’s target. “But at the same time ensuring its safety is equally important. There will be no compromise on the quality of the vaccine,” he added.

The health ministry earlier this month had allowed the private sector to purchase the coronavirus vaccine. The UK, US, China and Russia are currently involved in vaccine manufacturing, with Pfizer and Russia’s Sputnik vaccine already administered to selected groups of people.

Dr Faisal had said earlier that they were negotiating with China and Russia, among others, to procure coronavirus vaccines. “We are in talks with China, Russia and some other countries for procurement of the [Covid-19] vaccine after narrowing down our priority list,” he told Anadolu Agency.

On Thursday, the de facto heath minister of the country had told an event organised by World Health Organization (WHO) at its country office on Universal Health Coverage, that the government would make more investment in health sector to ensure protection from diseases.

Dr Sultan said that concrete steps were being taken to ensure universal health coverage for a safer and healthier future for every citizen of the country. He revealed that the government was working on a reform agenda to make drastic changes in the health sector.

The event was in relation to the International Universal Health Coverage Day observed on December 12. It marks the anniversary of the United Nations’ historic and unanimous resolution for universal health coverage in 2012.

The Universal Health Coverage is at the core of WHO’s ‘Vision 2023’, with a call for ‘Health for All by All’. Next year will be the ‘International Year of Health and Care Workers’, who have been leading the charge for Health for All by All’ since long, WHO said.