Vaccine global tender an eyewash, Centre should have floated it, says Chhattisgarh CM

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel says the state’s Covid case load is coming down and almost half of the oxygenated beds are vacant now. He tells Anubhuti Vishnoi that block-level preparations will begin to tackle a possible third wave and blames the Centre for its unpreparedness for the second wave, lack of clarity on vaccine doses and calls the global tendering process an eye wash. Excerpts:

On high Covid cases
In January, we were conducting about 22,000 tests, it rose to 30,000 in March, 48,000 in April and as on May 19, it is 70,000. We have been increasing our testing and this has helped immensely. From a positivity rate of about 1% in March first week, it was 8.5% by the third week and 23% by April. In May, it is under 10% which is a relief, but more needs to be done. We now have about 21,000 dedicated Covid hospital beds. From not a single ICU bed in 2018, we now have 515. There are 1,151 ventilators and 16,000 oxygen beds. Remdesivir was procured and given directly to hospitals.


Chhattisgarh never faced a shortage of oxygen and Remdesivir. We scaled up oxygen production ––12 factories were given immediate licence to operate and 435 MT of oxygen is now produced daily. Our peak hour consumption is about 180 MT and the rest of the LMO was sent to various states, as per the national quota allocation. It has caused us some financial loss as industrial units of steel etc had to be closed, but it’s a decision taken on humanitarian grounds.

On death rate data
Death rate is definitely high and a worry point. We have recorded 12,892 Covid deaths –– a 1.27% death rate. This has usually been under 1%, so it is of concern. However, if you do not test patients, you will not declare Covid deaths as well. We are conducting 70,000 tests a day on our 2.8 crore population. Our testing rate is far higher than Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. So, if there is a death of a Covid patient in Chhattisgarh, we can hardly hide the data. In fact, we are declaring more deaths than Madhya Pradesh, which has poor availability of oxygen beds. Nearly half of our oxygen beds are vacant. This shows where data is being misrepresented.

On vaccination status
90% of our healthcare workers have got the first dose and 64% have got the second dose. Those above 65 years have been covered with almost all getting their first dose. In the above 45 age set, 75% have got the first dose and 12% the second dose. About 7 lakh people have been vaccinated in total. We now have 90,000 to one lakh vaccines left for the 18-44 age group and this will finish soon. We have talked to the Centre and it appears we will only get more vaccines in June. A number of about 4.5 lakh vaccines is being discussed which is also less.

On global tenders
It is an eyewash. Domestic vaccine producers are giving us vaccines for ₹300 and ₹600 respectively, but foreign vaccines are quite expensive. Sputnik has come and look at the cost. So, at what rate are we to buy and would there be availability at all? It is not even clear what the Centre will permit. This is actually the job of the Government of India. It should have called a global tender, negotiated prices and placed orders which could have been allocated. I was also one of the first to suggest in the meetings that the vaccine formula be shared with other domestic pharmaceutical companies on royalty payment. That is the only way to ensure vaccine availability. The Centre is probably doing that now but it has been slow on it.

On Centre’s claim of second wave alert to states
If the Centre had really alerted states, why didn’t they take concrete action? The prime minister and home minister are holding meetings now with chief ministers and district magistrates. How many such meetings were taken for the preparation of the second wave, for oxygen supply, Remdesivir? This is passing the buck to hide the weakness in their own approach.

On allegations of overall governmental failure
Yes, it is true governments have failed. The Government of India clearly failed. There are also states fudging numbers, which is wrong. In Chhattisgarh, people appreciate that we took timely steps. There have been deaths and loss in our state but we worked hard to minimise the pain and people know it. But, there has been confusing policy making in the GoI –– whether it is use of plasma or Remdesivir or CT scans or in the pacing of vaccine dosage. Sab me antar virodh hai (there is self contradiction everywhere).

If you did not have adequate vaccines, why announce on May 1 that all above 18 will get it. Now people are running from pillar to post when there is no vaccine. Making such statements only increases public angst. Sometimes, you say second vaccine (can be taken) in four weeks, then you say 6-8 weeks and now you are saying 12-16 weeks. This shows you are doing this as you do not have vaccines.

On the rural spread
While the first strain came on flights –– with our people in Delhi and the cities who came back with infections –– the second strain has come via road, mainly from close interaction of rural people with adjacent Vidarbha in Maharashtra. That is why you see a greater spread in rural areas. Our first step was to activate local hospital facilities and bed availability so that all the pressure did not fall on the district hospitals alone. This helped distribute case load. Also, 70,000 of our Mitanins distributed Covid medicines to near 5 lakh people, many not tested, but showing symptoms. This early intervention helped reduce the number of hospitalisation and oxygen requirements. It brought down possible case load from 30% to 20%.

On the economic impact
We had to impose a lockdown as cases rose and that has impacted business and industry. While we could allow industrial units to open gradually, business has been hit. We are also affected as the GST share is not coming on time from the central government. Our share in central excise duty, Rs 18,000 crore, is pending with the Centre as is about Rs 41,000 crore we have sought for closure of private mines on the order of the Supreme court. We have launched Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana to put money in the hands of people. We are working on income support for landless farmers. We are paying Rs 9,000 per acre to farmers willing to switch from paddy cultivation other crops to boost farmer income. More steps will be taken as the pandemic subsides.

On readiness to tackle third wave
We will be ramping up our block-level hospitals and bring in specialists at the district level. Dedicated covid centres are going to be in place, our ventilator procurement is being increased. A committee of experts is in place to make recommendations on further preparation for the next waves.