Deyalsingh: Government can pay for covid19 vaccines

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh - Marvin Hamilton
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh - Marvin Hamilton

HEALTH Minister Terrence Deyalsingh on Tuesday rejected claims that Government was unable to pay the US$8.4 million cost for 351,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines which the ANSA McAl Group offered to buy for the Government to distribute to the public. His statement reflected the Prime Minister's statement last Thursday that Government was not begging anyone for covid19 vaccines.

Deyalsingh also insisted that there were no conflicting statements between Government and the Ansa McAl Group over a proposal from the latter for the purchase and supply of vaccines for distribution to the public.

Responding to a question from Opposition Senator Wade Mark in the Senate, Deyalsingh declared, "There is absolutely no contradictory on behalf of the Government." To clarify the matter for the Opposition and the public's benefit, Deyalsingh quoted from a February 19 letter written to him by Ansa McAl Group CEO Anthony N Sabga III.

Reading from Sabga's letter, Deyalsingh said, "However, in order to meet our commitment, we kindly request that GORTT (Govt of the Republic of TT) ensure that an adequate supply of US currency is made available through Ansa Merchant Bank to enable us to purchase these doses in a timely manner."

He told senators this answered the question about the US$8.4 million cost of the 350,000 vaccines. Continuing to quote from Sabga's letter, Deyalsingh said, "We further request that for all, not only ANSA but for all private-sector companies such as ourselves, which purchase vaccines for the exclusive use by GORTT in vaccinating the public, that a contribution be 100 per cent fully credited against taxes payable for the year of income 2021."

Deyalsingh reiterated, "There is no confusion. We are perfectly clear." Opposition Senator Wade Mark asked Deyalsingh whether Government was able to pay the US$8.4 million requested by Ansa McAl to buy the vaccines.

Deyalsingh replied, "Yes. This offer came out of a meeting, requested and arranged by the Ministry of Health because people were reaching out to me personally...chambers of commerce and all of those persons. We facilitated a meeting, they asked us our needs and where they could help."

Deyalsingh disclosed the private sector was willing to help with everything "from storage of vaccines to transport to provision of people to the provision of vehicles." He also said the private sector asked the ministry about the cost of the vaccines. "We gave them the cost. We were always prepared to fund these ourselves but the private sector wanted to be a part of it.

"We simply indicated to them what the cost of these vaccines would have been. At no time did we go to them to ask them to pay (for the vaccines). They (private sector) volunteered."

Senate President Christine Kangaloo disallowed a question from Mark calling on Deyalsingh to clarify an alleged statement by Sabga that Government requested the group's intervention to buy the 350,000 Pfizer vaccines.

In response to a separate question from Opposition Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial, Deyalsingh said Sabga, Supermarkets Association president Rajiv Diptee and himself have decided to be "forward-looking."

He disclosed, "In this vein, we will be working to procure safe WHO-approved vaccines for TT if available to the private sector. We assure the public that if and when there is a viable outcome, we will alert the public."

Deyalsingh also observed, "It was reported today that even Johnson & Johnson now cannot supply the US government with the doses of vaccines promised to the US government." Reiterating there is global shortage of vaccines, he added. "That is the state of play globally."

After explaining that Pfizer has not spoken to Government about the price or timetable for delivery of its vaccines to TT, Deyalsingh explained the US$8.4 million figure was an "indicative" price.

"We have asked for confirmation of prices and confirmation of estimated times of deliveries. That we have not had as yet as we sit here."

ANSA McAl officials said the group had no official statement to make about the proposal to Government to buy vaccines or on Deyalsingh's comments in the Senate. They also said the comments made by Sabga about the procurement of vaccines were contained in an internal letter that was issued to the group's 6,000 employees to provide clarity on the matter. The officials added this letter "entered the media domain."

The Health Ministry, in a statement, said letters of appreciation dated February 26, 2021 were sent to various private-sector firms "in recognition of their unstinting support to the Ministry of Health and the people of TT, for their generous contributions during the covid19 period of 2020."

The ministry said it was unfortunate that the contents of the letter were being associated with the procurement of vaccines in 2021 "when that was not the intention of the letter."

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"Deyalsingh: Government can pay for covid19 vaccines"

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