New Delhi: Congress, on Friday, expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court after it quizzed the central government for its plan on vaccine prices, the status of oxygen distribution and availability of essential medicines related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Soon after the hearing in the apex court over the suo moto case on Covid-19 concluded, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram tweeted, "Grateful that Supreme Court has raised the two issues that the Congress had first raised 15 days ago: vaccine prices and compulsory licensing to manufacture vaccines."
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He further added, "The government brushed aside the Congress. The PM did not even acknowledge the letter of the former PM. The Health Minister was rude in addition to being incompetent. Let us see how the government responds to the Supreme Court's concerns and questions."
In a video statement, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, "I hope people like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have heard loud and clear what the Supreme Court has said today that no cases of FIR should be lodged against people who are complaining over the shortage of oxygen and losing their lives because of this."
The Supreme Court has directed the Center and all DGPs not to take any action against the people raising grievances on the internet over the shortage of oxygen, beds or doctors.
Read:| Centre asks states to ensure judicious use of oxygen
Supreme Court has also reiterated how there needs to be equity as far as vaccination is concerned and that the price cannot be set by the manufacturer alone and the government must play a role in that. SC has even called the differential prices of vaccine for Center, States and private hospitals "very very disturbing".
Shrinate further added, "Supreme Court also talks about Section 92 of the Patent Act and how compulsory licensing is needed to be introduced. This suggestion was given by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. I hope that the government, which has ignored the opposition's demand, a former PM's concern, is perhaps going to listen to the apex court of the nation."
Senior advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi also reacted to the issue and tweeted, "Finally some good news coming in from the SC. The need of the hour is to take the vaccination drive towards the idea of 'Vaccine Neutrality' - a concept that I as well as Congress have been advocating for a long."
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