KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya has no control over Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine pricing in negotiations among state governments and the private sector, said Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (Tenggara-BN).
The science, technology and innovation minister in a parliamentary reply said the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) will consider implementing price controls in the local private vaccine market.
Yeo Bee Yin (Bakri-PH) earlier asked why Pharmaniaga Bhd is allowed to profit from the sale of vaccines to state governments, and why Putrajaya is unable to provide supplies.
Dr Adham said vaccine distribution is based on supply availability, which certain states feel is insufficient, thus they took alternative steps to procure doses.
“Based on Health Ministry guidelines, any talks on vaccine procurement have to involve Malaysian product registration holders. For Sinovac, it is Pharmaniaga Lifescience Sdn Bhd, while for CanSino, it is Solution Biologics Sdn Bhd.
“Until now, Johor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Perak have procurement agreements to get Sinovac from Pharmaniaga Lifescience.”
He added that the company is allowed to sell vaccines privately after fulfilling its contract with the federal government.
In July, Pharmaniaga Bhd group managing director Datuk Zulkarnain Md Eusope revealed that state governments had ordered nearly half of the 14 million Sinovac doses that the firm intended to sell.
He said the Selangor government was the biggest purchaser, submitting an order for 2.5 million doses.
He also announced the order amounts of other states, such as Perak, Pahang, Johor, Negri Sembilan, Sabah and Sarawak, totalling about six million doses, including Selangor’s order.
Zulkarnain said the remaining eight million doses would be sold to the private sector, including hospitals, from August 1. – The Vibes, October 1, 2021
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