Capping elitism
In a country like Pakistan, the very few who have money, power and influence have never considered anything or anyone beyond their own selves. Indeed, the route to ‘success’ in this country has historically been on the backs of several scores of less fortunate or those less ‘fit’ for survival. Self-preservation at any cost is the motto here. It is thus welcoming to know that the government has now decided to reverse its decision to allow the uncapped sale of vaccines for Covid-19 to private buyers, to prevent price gouging for segments of society and allowing more than just the elite to access it.
The government had been importing the Covid-19 vaccine from a host of sources. However, it had felt that there was a need to enable the private sector to import vaccines to administer those segments of society who were not on the immediate priority established by the government, under strict medical supervision in private healthcare facilities. Given the situation, the federal cabinet considered that fixing the maximum retail price of vaccines under the Drug Pricing Policy-2018 was not possible, and allowed an exemption from Section 12 of the Drugs Act, 1976, for six months or until the market prices of vaccines became available.
A meeting of the NCOC recently expressed its apprehensions that the vaccines may be sold or administered at very high prices if the rates were not regulated. However, it also emphasised that the process of fixing maximum retail prices be amended keeping in view the urgency of the situation. As noble as these moves appear, a lot will depend on how well the government can regulate the sale of smuggled vaccines. On the other hand, there is the argument that those who can afford it should be able to buy the vaccine for their use. This is a debate over which the government must take every stakeholder on board before arriving at a decision that does not marginalise sections of the public.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2021.
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