Health Minister Reluctant to Disclose The Cost of Covid-19 Vaccine

Health Minister Zahid Maleque did not disclose the cost of buying the coronavirus vaccine in the current session like the 15th session of the National Parliament.

He said it would not be appropriate to disclose the cost of purchasing vaccines through non-closure agreements in Parliament. However, the vaccine has been purchased at a competitive price by ensuring the demand, honesty and transparency, he said.

The health minister was responding to a question from Aminul Islam, an MP from Chapainawabganj-2 constituency, on Wednesday (January 26).

With this, the health minister twice avoided disclosing the cost of buying vaccines in parliament. Although not announced in Parliament, the Ministry of Health announced in July last year that the government's expenditure on coronavirus treatment, including the purchase of vaccines, would be announced in the media.

Abul Kalam Azad of Jamalpur-1 constituency on November 16 last year asked the Parliament how many vaccines were collected from which countries as well as how much money was spent for it. This time too, the same senior MP from the ruling party asked the same question.

However, the Minister of Health gave the answer to this question two months ago. In response to today's (Wednesday) question, he said that the same number of vaccines were brought to the country at that time.