Nepal can now buy 2 million doses of Covishield from India

KATHMANDU: Nepal can now buy 2 million doses of Covishield from India at the rate of 4 dollars per vaccine. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar this evening decided to pay in advance for the purchase of Covishield vaccine made in India.

Although an agreement was reached with the Serum Institute of India to purchase one dose of the vaccine for 4 dollars, the procurement process could not proceed on payment. Health and Population Minister Hridayesh Tripathi told Nepal Press that the decision of the cabinet has paved the way for purchase of vaccines.

Until now, according to the Procurement Act and regulations, payment for only 80 percent of the goods to be procured can be done in advance. Health Minister Tripathi said that the cabinet meeting had removed the obstacles to solve this problem.

The government is going to buy 2 million doses of vaccine with Serum. He said that the decision of the cabinet has paved the way for immediate procurement of vaccines.