Vaccine global tender an eyewash: Chhattisgarh CM | Economic Times

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel says the state’s Covid case load is coming down and almost half of the oxygenated beds are vacant now. He tells Anubhuti Vishnoi that block-level preparations will begin to tackle a possible third wave and blames the Centre for its unpreparedness for the second wave, lack of clarity on vaccine doses and calls the global tendering process an eye wash. Excerpts: On high Covid cases In January, we were conducting about 22,000 tests, it rose to 30,000 in March, 48,000 in April and as on May 19, it is 70,000. We have been increasing our testing and this has helped immensely. From a positivity rate of about 1% in March first week, it was 8.5% by the third week and 23% by April. In May, it is under 10% which is a relief, but more needs to be done. We now have about 21,000 dedicated Covid hospital beds. From not a single ICU bed in 2018, we now have 515. There are 1,151 ventilators and 16,000 oxygen beds. Remdesivir was procured and given directly to hospitals. Chhattisgarh never faced a shortage of oxygen and Remdesivir. We scaled up oxygen production ––12 factories were given immediate licence to operate and 435 MT of oxygen is now produced daily. Our peak hour consumption is about 180 MT and the rest of the LMO was sent to various states, as per the national quota allocation. It has caused us some financial loss as industrial units of steel etc had to be closed, but it’s a decision taken on humanitarian grounds.On death rate dataDeath rate is definitely high and a worry point. We have recorded 12,892 Covid deaths –– a 1.27% death rate. This has usually been under 1%, so it is of concern. However, if you do not test patients, you will not declare Covid deaths as well. We are conducting 70,000 tests a day on our 2.8 crore population. Our testing rate is far higher than Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. So, if there is a death of a Covid patient in Chhattisgarh, we can hardly hide the data. In fact, we are declaring more deaths than Madhya Pradesh, which has poor availability of oxygen beds. Nearly half of our oxygen beds are vacant. This shows where data is being misrepresented. On vaccination status90% of our healthcare workers have got the first dose and 64% have got the second dose. Those above 65 years have been covered with almost all getting their first dose. In the above 45 age set, 75% have got the first dose and 12% the second dose. About 7 lakh people have been vaccinated in total. We now have 90,000 to one lakh vaccines left for the 18-44 age group and this will finish soon. We have talked to the Centre and it appears we will only get more vaccines in June. A number of about 4.5 lakh vaccines is being discussed which is also less.On global tendersIt is an eyewash. Domestic vaccine producers are giving us vaccines for ₹300 and ₹600 respectively, but foreign vaccines are quite expensive. Sputnik has come and look at the cost. So, at what rate are we to buy and would there be availability at all? It is not even clear what the Centre will permit. This is actually the job of the Government of India. It should have called a global tender, negotiated prices and placed orders which could have been allocated. I was also one of the first to suggest in the meetings that the vaccine formula be shared with other domestic pharmaceutical companies on royalty payment. That is the only way to ensure vaccine availability. The Centre is probably doing that now but it has been slow on it.On Centre’s claim of second wave alert to states If the Centre had really alerted states, why didn’t they take concrete action? The prime minister and home minister are holding meetings now with chief ministers and district magistrates. How many such meetings were taken for the preparation of the second wave, for oxygen supply, Remdesivir? This is passing the buck to hide the weakness in their own approach.