The lesser the merrier

Chemists exploiting acute shortage of intra-nasal H1N1 vaccine in swine flu season to overcharge, say docs

As a result of the intra-nasal H1N1 vaccine flying off the shelves at drug stores in the city, there is an acute shortage in the market which doctors say the few chemists still left with stocks are exploiting to the hilt.

According to medical sources, a very small number of chemists have vaccine stocks with them and they are refusing to sell the popular vaccine unless a large bulk order is placed.

Conditions apply
"We have a huge drug market area here and when I enquired about the vaccine, I was first told that it was out of stock," a doctor said. "After insisting for long and saying that I must have the vaccine as I had a lot of people waiting to take it, the chemist told me he could give it to me but only if I ordered other drugs too and the bill was at least Rs 20,000."

Another doctor said a chemist had agreed to sell him the vaccine, but at a higher cost.

"I knew that the vaccine vial cost around Rs 750, but when I asked the chemist if it was available, he said he could try. When asked about the cost, he quoted Rs 900," the doctor said.

Mahendra Pitaliya, co-ordinator of Chemists Association of Pune District, confirmed that there was a shortage of Nasovac, the preventive H1N1 intr-nasal vaccine developed and manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII), but denied that any chemist was trying to take advantage of the situation.

"There is hardly any stock left, so where does the question of taking advantage arrive?" he said. "Though we did hear of some doctors overcharging, no chemist would ask for more than the retail price."

Dr Sharad Agharkhedkar, president of Indian Medical Association, Pune chapter, said chemists were overcharging doctors in the sense that they were not selling the vaccine at a "fair price".

"Actually, chemists are supposed to give the vaccine to doctors for 30 per cent less than the MRP," said Agharkhedkar. "Even after removing this percentage from the MRP, they make a profit. But as the vaccine isn't available in the open market, they are taking advantage of the situation and giving the vaccine at the MRP to us."

He refused to comment on whether any chemist had charged more than the maximum retail price.

Complaints against docs
Besides chemists, complaints against doctors for overcharging are also pouring in. MiD DAY had reported last week how a doctor was charging Rs 1,400 for a single dose of the swine flu vaccine that costs Rs 158.

Dr Rajeev Dhere, senior director (vaccines), SII said the company had received reports of overcharging because of the shortage in the market.

"We have read reports and also had people calling in with complaints of overcharging. The only solution we can offer is resuming regular supply of vaccine in the market. Now we have overcome some technical difficulties we had, and starting from Thursday, adequate doses of the vaccine will be sent into the market," Dhere said.