Why Should Centre, Not States, Distribute Vaccine to Private Hospitals, Asks Mamata Banerjee

Alleging that the Narendra Modi authorities just isn’t following the spirit of federalism, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday puzzled why the Centre stored to itself the fitting of distribution of 25 per cent Covid-19 vaccines to non-public hospitals and never to the states. The prime minister had on Monday introduced that the Centre has determined to purchase 75 per cent of jabs from vaccine makers without spending a dime provide to states, whereas non-public sector hospitals will proceed to procure the remaining 25 per cent.

Banerjee stated that she opposed the imposition of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on medicines, tools and vaccines required for the therapy of Covid-19. Addressing a press meet on the state secretariat ‘Nabanna’ after assembly leaders of agitating peasants, she stated that from “Covid to farmers”, the BJP-led central government has pushed the country into serious crisis.

“The Centre has said that it will directly provide 25 per cent of vaccines to private hospitals. Why by the Centre? The state implements the policy of the Centre in a federal set-up,” she stated. Taking a dig on the prime minister, she stated, “He solely is aware of how to converse in opposition to states. He solely is aware of about divide and rule. Why is there no phrase by the PM about withdrawing 5 per cent GST on Covid vaccines?” Banerjee said that the prime minister did not think about spending Rs 34,000 crore from PM Cares Fund to fully vaccinate the people of the country in all these days.