KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr Shekhar Koirala has said it is a shame to hear that the procurement process of COVID-19 vaccines has been hit due to a commission game.
Posting a Facebook status, leader Koirala said it is a shame to hear that entrepreneurs Bijaya Dugad and Ritu Baidya who are close to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli halted the coronavirus vaccines after a negotiation on commission was not settled.
“It is a height of betrayal of people at a time when they are reeling under COVID-19 pandemic,” said Koirala in his Facebook message, adding, “The OMNI Group close to Prime Minister Oli had been assigned with the responsibility for the procurement of medical goods in the first phase of COVID-19 during which a huge amount of money had been embezzled.”
Lashing out at the Oli-led government, Koirala said it is a great crime on the part of the Prime Minister’s henchmen costing health of the people in general amidst COVID-19 pandemic. “It is an unpardonable crime,” stated Koirala.
Prime Minister Oli has to take the full responsibility of it. People will duly assess it.
It is learnt that the procurement process of 5 million doses of Covishield vaccines has not moved forward after a negotiation on commission of Rs 350 million between the Ministry of Health and Population and a Nepali agent of Serum Institute of India that manufactures Covishield vaccines, remained unsettled.
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