The coalition parties CDA, VVD and D66 set further requirements for the privatization of Intravacc. The parties want the government’s vaccine development institute to contribute to Dutch and European self-sufficiency in vaccines after the sale.
The privatization of the company has been on the agenda since 2013 and has been dividing the House of Representatives for years. In 2020, sales came to a standstill after the outbreak of the corona pandemic. Health Minister Ernst Kuipers now wants to continue the privatisation. According to Kuipers, Intravacc can only play a significant role if it seeks cooperation with private pharmaceutical companies.
Kuipers told the House of Representatives that he wanted to meet the demands of the three coalition parties. He will inform the manufacturer confidentially about the conditions that the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) wants to impose on the buyer.
SP, PvdA and GroenLinks today filed a motion to prevent the sales. “If we sell Intravacc, we will lose control over the development of public health vaccines. Or do we keep it in the hands of the government and turn it into a renowned institute?’, says Lisa Westerveld, MP from GroenLinks.
Free market
According to Intravacc director Jan Groen, the sale of the company is necessary for the continuity of the company. “As a government institution, we cannot play a role in the vaccine chain in Europe. Then we have to be active on the free market”. Groen: ‘As a shareholder, the government cannot invest in Intravacc. That’s why we are looking for a shareholder who is able to give the company a more important role.’ As Intravacc is a government institution, money can only be invested in the company after a European tender.
Groen doesn’t share the House of Representatives’ concerns about loss of knowledge about vaccine development when the company is sold. ‘That knowledge is ensured in universities and hospitals. Ultimately, you want to develop that knowledge further to make sure it can be developed at scale.’
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
