Hyderabad: The Ministry of Health Brazil said that to temporarily suspend his order to get 20 million doses of Covaxin Bharat Biotech after allegations of irregularities.
However, Hyderabad-based vaccine makers have denied mistakes and said they have participated in the process of procuring a general vaccine, widely accepted, and established which includes advance payments.
“Since the first meeting with the Ministry of Health (Moh) Brazil during November 2020 to 29 June 2021, a step-by-step approach has been followed towards contract and regulatory approval, during a long process of almost 8 months,” Bharat said Biotech in a statement.
“Over the past few weeks, there are reports in the media in general misinterpret the process of procuring Covaxin in Brazil and other countries,” he added.
Brazil’s Moh, in the order released on June 29, said the General Union comproller.
(CGU) did not find irregularities in preliminary analysis and the CGU Minister said suspension was a precautionary measure, according to the version of the statement translated on the website Moh.
Slamming allegations that his partners Precisa Medicamentos asked Brazil Moh to make payments in advance to third parties – Madison Biotech Pte Ltd – Bharat Biotech said the company was founded by the founder of the CMD Dr.
Krishna Ella in 2020 for “external R & D purpose and sales and marketing Vaccine “.
“We want to eliminate ideas or implications of any mistakes, because all of this is an affiliate company found or acquired and operated by Dr.
Krishna Ella,” said Bharat Biotech.
The company also said that after receiving an emergency use authorization (EUA) from Brazilian authorities on June 4, it has not received payment of a down payment or providing any vaccine to Moh on June 29.
Chalk in the procurement process, the company said once received a letter of intention (or MoU) for procurement, it applies to EUA in the country.
Post Eua, Moh from the country places orders by releasing purchase orders.
“To secure the company’s purchase orders from the country, the company proceeded to improve the Proforma Invoice to Moh, towards the supply of vaccines.
Based on invoices, Moh pays in advance.
After payment is received, the company continues to supply the agreed amount and in the agreed schedule,” He explained.
“In some countries, Mohs has ordered procurement before vaccine approval such as the United States, EU, India, etc.
However, procurement only occurs at the EUA post,” it shows.
At the procurement price, which has been the subject of an investigation in Brazil, Bharat Biotech said the covaxin price determination was clearly set between $ 15-20 per dose for supply outside India.
“Prices for Brazil have also been shown at $ 15 per dose.
Bharat Biotech has received advance payments from several other countries at the above price point, with inventory in the process, waiting for approval,” he said.
Covaxin has received EUA in 16 countries and EUAS is in the process of 50 countries around the world with a discussion also ongoing with the World Health Organization (WHO) for a list of emergency use, he said.