Representational image  |  Photo Credit: PTI
New Delhi: In an attempt to make vaccines against coronavirus affordable, the price of Covishield and Covaxin, two widely-used COVID-19 vaccines in India, is likely to be capped at Rs 275 per dose along with an additional service charge of Rs 150.
The two vaccines, which have been granted Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) in India, are expected to soon get regular market approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), official sources said, news agency PTI reported.
Presently, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is available at a price of Rs 1,200 per dose for private hospitals while Covishield of Serum Institute of India costs Rs 780 in private facilities. The prices include Rs 150 service charge.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has been directed to start working towards capping the price to make the vaccines affordable.
“The NPPA has been asked to work towards capping the price of the vaccines. The price is likely to be capped at Rs 275 per dose along with an additional service charge of ₹150,” a source told PTI.
An Subject Expert Committee on COVID-19 of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation on January 19 recommended granting regular market approval to COVID vaccines Covishield and Covaxin for use in the adult population subject to certain conditions.
Prakash Kumar Singh, the director (government and regulatory affairs) at Serum Institue of India, had submitted an application to the DCGI on October 25 seeking regular market approval for its Covishiled vaccine.
Recently, V Krishna Mohan, the whole-time director at Bharat Biotech, also submitted complete information on the chemistry, manufacturing and controls, along with the pre-clinical and clinical data while seeking regular market authorisation for Covaxin.