Bombay HC pulls up Maharashtra govt over hospital’s surplus vials – Times of India

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court frowned at the state government for not deciding on the representation of a hospital in Nalasopara (E) that has surplus Covishield vaccine vials with expiry dates of April 21 and May 2. “You were supposed to decide,” said Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Madhav Jamdar on Tuesday, after hearing a petition by Vijayalaxmi Maternity Surgical and General Hospital that has surplus 349 vials worth Rs 22 lakh, excluding taxes.
The state’s advocate, Ravi Kadam, said he would take instructions on the representation. “They [hospital] purchased on their own. Government has not insisted [on purchase of vials],” he defended. On April 7, the HC had directed the state government to consider the hospital’s representation by April 18.
Advocates Uday Warunjikar and Sumit Kate, for the hospital, argued that during the pandemic, vaccines were an asset for the entire country. “Direction was issued that not a single vial should go waste,” said Warunjikar. He further said that Serum Institute of India (SII) had informed that minimum 300 vials are required to be purchased.
The judges felt there can be a buyback of the vials that can be used, but after learning that the expiry dates are close, they questioned the hospital’s delay in moving the HC on March 25. “How will the government also buy if expiry is on these dates?” asked Justice Mohite-Dere. Warunjikar suggested that the surplus vaccine vials could be purchased for booster purposes.
The judges asked Kadam to speak to the officer concerned. He returned saying the officer’s number was unreachable. But Kadam added, “It is a national policy and the Union government will have to take a decision on it.” To this, Justice Mohite-Dere replied: “The main issue is you were directed to consider the representation. Policy part will come later.” The judges posted the matter on Wednesday for the state to inform on its decision.
In its petition, the 37-bed private hospital said “believing” the appeals by the Prime Minister, chief minister and Palghar collector, it began administering the vaccine against Covid. Till February 2022, it had administered 6,125 doses. In August 2021, the hospital purchased 600 vials from SII. With 349 vials near expiry dates, the hospital wrote to the authorities, but got no response. On March 22, the medical officer of Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation told it to surrender the vials free of cost.