Pfizer donates Covid-19 drugs worth Rs.500Cr to India

A lot of people are currently losing their lives due to the deadly second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. There is a vaccine shortage all over the country, and the vaccines are also not available at a nominal price for a lot of people.

Global pharma major Pfizer is now discussing an expedited approval of its vaccine in India, with the government of India. Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla, on Monday, announced a donation of medicines worth more than $70 million(Rs.510cr). Back in April, Pfizer offered a not-for-profit price for its vaccine, to contribute to the government’s immunisation programme in India and has now said that it remains committed to continuing engagement with the government to make the vaccine available in India.

Pfizer has now said that although its application for use in India was submitted a long time ago, it wasn’t still approved. It said that it is currently working with the government to expedite the process and bring the Pfizer-BioNTech to the people of the nation, considering the importance that vaccination plays a role in ending the pandemic on a global scale. Pfizer had earlier even stated that it would distribute its vaccine in the country only through government contracts.

The government of India allowed for the emergency use of several imported vaccines, which were granted permission for restricted use by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UK MHRA), Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device Agency (PMDA) Japan or which are listed in WHO (emergency use listing).