KUALA LUMPUR – The government today denied that the cost of Covid-19 vaccines for Malaysians are more expensive than in Belgium.
Deputy Finance Minister II Mohd Shahar Abdullah said the Belgian government has ordered 33.5 million doses of vaccines to be given to 16.7 million people in the country at a cost of RM1.38 billion.
"Belgium will provide two doses of the vaccine to each of its citizens at an estimated cost of RM82.40 (per person)," he said while winding-up the Temporary Measures for Government Financing (Coronavirus Disease 2019 [COVID-19]) (Amendment) Bill 2020 in the Dewan Negara today.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian government, he said, paid RM2.05 billion for the procurement of 26.5 million Covid-19 vaccines to be given to 26.5 million people in the country.
“The cost of the vaccines for a Malaysian is RM77.35 (per person). This shows that our price is lower than that of Belgium. I hope this explanation can avoid confusion," he said.
Allegations had recently surfaced that Malaysia is paying about 20 times more for the Covid-19 vaccine than the Belgian government.
On allegations that "middlemen" were involved in the vaccine procurement process, Shahar assured that the supply of vaccines was obtained directly from the pharmaceutical companies.
In addition, the other three procurement methods are Malaysia's participation in the Covax facility and Covax optional purchase agreement, government-to-government (G2G) bilateral agreements and, in the long run, open tender.
"I am confident that the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee chaired by the Health and Science, Technology and Innovation Ministries under the supervision of the Finance Ministry will ensure that all these matters are prioritised so that the vaccine preparation plan is at an optimal level." – Bernama, December 28, 2020
