A few days back, I had posted a small Facebook write-up - a set of three Q&A on vaccine pricing with a hope that it would answer queries of those genuinely interested in seeking answers while demonstrating either the ignorance or the malice of the other kind, aka Left Liberal educated intellectuals. Today, I am going to present a write-up offering perspectives on the process which preceded vaccine pricing, i.e. its supply chain. This blog is an outcome of my wife's insistence for presentation on this topic as she is totally peeved with unreasonable charges being thrown across the table ignoring the supply chain management concepts of queuing, run-rates, inventory, cash conversion cycle and capex (or capital investment). Letting her stay peeved is not in my best interests - physically as well as emotionally, hence - In Queue, In Quandary. Using basic daily life examples and avoiding complication of the financial terms mentioned in the previous sentence, I'll present a simple food-for-thought perspective on this topic. By the end of the write-up, I am hoping I would have unboxed few of the answers to some of the questions swirling around, such as the following:
1. Why the Centre doesn't procure vaccines for all its people unlike some western nations?
2. Is there a vaccine shortage and production deficiency? If so, why not ramp-up?
3. Why have we not halted vaccine exports and rather, why are we not importing additional vaccines?
