The Congress on Saturday said the oxygen shortage that is killing Covid patients is the result of the Narendra Modi government’s failure to prepare despite early warnings.
“India has 1.65 crore Covid cases and over 2,500 people are dying daily. Unfortunately, this is not only because of the pandemic; the government’s attitude, arrogance and failures are part of the causes for this tragedy,” he said.
Maken pointed to the report of the parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare, submitted on November 21 and tabled in the Rajya Sabha in February.
“In the 190-page report, the word ‘oxygen’ appears 40 times. The report says on page 27: ‘The committee, therefore, strongly advocates national pharmaceutical pricing authority to take appropriate measures, for capping the price of oxygen cylinders so that availability, as well as, affordability of the oxygen cylinder is ensured in all the hospitals and for medical consumption. The committee also recommends
Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday termed the vaccine policy regressive and asked the states to form committees to negotiate price of the vaccines. The central government s decision to allow multiple prices for vaccines is discriminatory and regressive. States must unanimously reject the decision, Chidambaram said. He suggested that the best way forward is for the State governments to jointly form a Price Negotiation Committee and offer to negotiate a uniform price with the two vaccine manufacturers. The joint purchasing power of the State governments will force the manufacturers to agree to a uniform price. States must take the initiative. The central government has abdicated its responsibility and surrendered to corporate profiteering.
Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over deaths due to shortage of oxygen, ICU beds
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Congress continues attack on government’s handling of COVID-19 pandemic
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Congress continues attack on government’s handling of COVID-19 pandemic
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the Centre was responsible for people dying due to shortage of oxygen and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Corona can cause a fall in oxygen level but it’s #OxygenShortage & lack of ICU beds which is causing many deaths. GOI, this is on you,” tweeted Mr. Gandhi, who himself tested positive and is in home isolation.
States must jointly negotiate uniform vaccine price with manufacturers: Chidambaram
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Last Updated: Apr 23, 2021, 01:53 PM IST
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Synopsis The best way forward is for the state governments to jointly form a Price Negotiation Committee and offer to negotiate a uniform price with the two vaccine manufacturers, the Congress leader said in a series of tweets.
PTI
Terming the Centre s decision to allow multiple prices for vaccines discriminatory , senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday suggested states to jointly form a price negotiation committee to work out a uniform rate with the manufacturers. Chidambaram also accused the central government of having abdicated its responsibility and surrendering to corporate profiteering.
Coronavirus: Opposition leaders demand uniform vaccination rate
The Centre has also liberalised and deregulated vaccine prices, which means the cost of getting inoculated will vary in each state. 3 hours ago A health worker prepares to administer a dose of the Covishield, AstraZeneca-Oxford s Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine, at a vaccination centre in Mumbai on April 1, 2021. | Punit Paranjpe / AFP
Opposition leaders on Friday demanded a uniform vaccination rate as India is battling a terrible second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the third phase of the inoculation drive, vaccine manufacturers can sell half their vaccines to state governments and private hospitals. The Centre said it will provide vaccines free of cost for only the first 30 crore vulnerable persons. After that, vaccines will not be subsidised as they are being at present.