Economy & Market

Vaccine economy: The bigger picture of primary healthcare

Published

4 years ago

March 5, 2021

admin

The vaccination of people against the pandemic is one sure way to come out of the economic steadfastness we have seen in the run-up to the opening of the sectors in the post lock-down phase, in most economies of the world, India is no exception. The speed with which vaccination can be implemented has several objective functions, some of them conflicting with each other. Take for example, the additional fiscal burden on one hand and the possible other conflicting priorities at the same time.

The fiscal calculations is made simple by the budget outlook of Rs 35,000 crore set aside by the vaccine distribution and administering cost for this year, which comes to Rs 700 per person for 50 crore of the population, which is the critical mass of people in the target age groups, that are vulnerable. As a base cost this is quite an accurate prediction.

However, supply chain costs have to contend with a time element and wastes cannot be recovered; for example if large parts of the supply chain idle at some point of time, these costs cannot be recovered by additional out-stretched means. If one goes by the relative capacity utilisation of vaccine centers then a majority of the centers are at close to a quarter of the utilisation that it is supposed to be planned on, while a minority of centers are at over-capacity.

This is the classical problem of demand shaping. The core of the problem is that demand must be shaped such that a supply line will operate at its capacity level efficiently, both in terms of economies of scale but also in terms of density. It is like minimising the cost of an additional supply, given that the system is optimised. For a fully optimised supply line, this additional cost is close to zero.

So the vaccine cost is actually the cost of an optimised supply line and it is just not the efficiency of the last mile, but the combined effort of ensuring that demand and supply matches to the optimised capacity for majority of the administering points. This would mean promotional campaigns to ensure that all points of service have adequate number of recipients lining up for the vaccine on time while the supply lines are planned to match it.

At India-wide deployment level, this is no small task, it is the biggest experiment in supply chain planning and execution. India has actually done well in the past in the universal immunisation programmes to inoculate little more than five crore people per year. But that is mostly pregnant women and infant children, which is an even more challenging task. To now cover a more diverse cross section of people with a time bound plan, there is a requirement of supply chain planning of the vaccine that must match demand with supply at every stocking point, which would mean precision planning of logistics together with storage systems working in alignment. Bringing target segments to line up at the vaccine center is as difficult a task as planning the supply line for it.

Actually this is a great opportunity to test and augment the entire capacity of our public health infrastructure and systems, including people capability. If India?? primary health sector is at 2 per cent of the economy, the pandemic and the vaccination drive has the potential of adding a couple of percentage points to it. The question is whether the effort can be made such that the system is upgraded as a sustainable proposition and not taken as a one time push. The former will ensure that we create people capability in every aspect of the supply chains, from cold storage to cold storage distribution points, mobile storage and temperature protocols that end up producing zero waste in the system. These efficiencies would depend on people capabilities alone.

The procurement to planning of vaccine distribution in vaccine supply chains will create the backbone of a new primary health infrastructure where many parts of the system talk to each other to create strong service delivery response that the countrymen will be proud of. It is not fiscal maths or pandemic response, but we should be looking at the bigger picture for a sustainable future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Procyon Mukherjee is an ex-Chief Procurement Officer at LafargeHolcim India.

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15th Cement EXPO: A Step Forward in Cement Innovation

Published

3 weeks ago

January 17, 2025

admin

Mumbai

Following the immense success of the 14th Cement EXPO, held on December 14-15, 2023, at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, the next edition of this premier event is set to take place in March 2025. The 15th Cement EXPO will be hosted at Yashobhoomi, Delhi, on 12th and 13th November 2025.

Meanwhile, the Cement Expo Forum 2025 is scheduled for 5th and 6th March 2025 at Taj Krishna in Hyderabad. This exciting 3-in-1 event, organised by FIRST Construction Council (FCC) and Indian Cement Review (ICR), will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to discuss the future of the cement sector.

Building on the Success of the 14th Cement EXPO

The 14th Cement EXPO was widely praised for its strong participation, attracting over 1,500 senior managers and decision-makers from across the cement industry. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, and Ali Emir Adiguzel, Founder and Director of the World Cement Association, alongside Pratap Padode, Founder of FIRST Construction Council (FCC). The two-tiered exhibition space featured cutting-edge products and innovations from top companies within the cement industry’s supply chain.

The event also garnered significant support from key government bodies, including the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government e-Marketplace (GeM), and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India (GoI).

Recognition and Excellence in the Cement Industry

The 7th Indian Cement Review Awards celebrated excellence by presenting awards to 11 companies in various categories, recognising their contributions to growth and innovation within the industry. Notably, Parth Jindal, Managing Director of JSW Cement, was honoured with the prestigious Indian Cement Review – Person of the Year Award 2023. Meanwhile, Vinita Singhania, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding leadership and contributions to the sector.

A Vision for Sustainability

With the theme of “Driving Sustainability Through Technology,” the 9th Indian Cement Review Conference hosted thought-provoking discussions and presentations, highlighting the industry’s commitment to adopting innovative, sustainable practices. The conference served as a platform for dialogue on the latest technological advancements aimed at transforming the cement sector, addressing key challenges, and fostering growth.

What to Expect from Cement EXPO 2025

The 15th Cement EXPO, along with the 10th Indian Cement Review Conference and the 8th Indian Cement Review Awards, is set to be even bigger and more impactful than the 2023 edition. With an expanded exhibition space, greater participation, and more in-depth discussions, the 2025 event will continue to drive the industry forward. This 3-in-1 event promises to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing transformation of the cement sector.

As the industry evolves, the 15th Cement EXPO 2025 will serve as a crucial platform for showcasing innovations, discussing emerging trends, and forging new partnerships to shape the future of cement and construction.

For more details:

Cement Expo Forum 2025: https://cementexpo.in/forum

15^th Cement Expo 2025: https://cementexpo.in/

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Concrete

Construction sector growth slows to 8-10% for FY2025: ICRA

Published

3 weeks ago

January 15, 2025

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The revenue growth for construction companies in FY2025 is projected at 8-10 per cent, down from the earlier estimate of 12-15 per cent, according to ICRA. This marks the slowest growth in three years, driven by factors such as the Model Code of Conduct in Q1, prolonged monsoons, and milestone-based billing in Q2, particularly affecting road-focused players.
ICRA’s analysis of 19 companies with a combined turnover of Rs.1.28 trillion in FY2024 shows modest revenue growth of 1.5 per cent YoY in H1 FY2025. While execution is expected to improve in H2, FY2025 growth remains below the historical CAGR of ~15 per cent (FY2018-FY2024).
Order inflows in urban transport, water and sewage projects are healthy, but road-focused entities face challenges due to muted inflows and high competition. Operating margins are projected to remain range-bound at 10.5-11 per cent, with debt levels rising to manage working capital needs, though debt coverage metrics remain stable.

Concrete

SANY India expands Pune factory to boost production capacity

Published

3 weeks ago

January 15, 2025

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SANY India inaugurated a cutting-edge factory expansion at its 90-acre Pune facility, elevating its production capacity to over 14,000 units annually, alongside a robust fabrication capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes.

The advanced facility reinforces SANY’s commitment to ‘Make in India’ by enhancing localised manufacturing and supporting global exports. Chairman Xiang Wenbo highlighted the strategic importance of India as a global hub, while Vice Chairman Deepak Garg emphasised the expansion’s role in driving innovation and infrastructure development. This investment enhances efficiency, reduces timelines, and strengthens SANY’s leadership in the construction equipment sector.