Pfizer has decided to donate medical supplies, including drugs to treat COVID-19 patients, worth $70 million to India.
In a statement on Monday, the US pharmaceutical company said it was in talks with the Indian government to get the approval for its COVID-19 vaccine expedited.
Pfizer’s distribution centres in US, Europe and Asia will deliver the items that are a part of India’s COVID treatment protocol.
“These medicines, valued at more than $70 million, will be made available immediately, and we will work closely with the government and our NGO partners to get them to where they are needed most. This effort, in combination with Pfizer foundation funding that supports humanitarian organisations providing essential and life-saving equipment to India, such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and consumables, is our most comprehensive humanitarian relief response ever,” said Albert Bourla , chairman and chief executive officer, Pfizer, in a statement meant for its India colleagues.
He also said that the company was aware of the role of vaccines in controlling the pandemic. “Pfizer is aware that access to vaccines is critical to ending this pandemic. Unfortunately, our vaccine is not registered in India although our application was submitted months ago. We are currently discussing with the Indian government an expedited approval pathway to make our Pfizer-BioNTECH vaccine available for use in the country,” Bourla added.
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