Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday suggested that more pharma companies should be allowed to make the Covid-19 vaccine in the country during the pandemic to scale up production.

Addressing Vice Chancellors of Universities in India virtually, Gadkari said he will also request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring a law for allowing more pharma companies to manufacture life-saving drugs by paying 10 per cent royalty to the patent holder of the drug.

"If the demand of vaccine is more than its supply then it creates a problem. So, instead of one company, 10 more companies should be allowed to make vaccines by paying 10 per cent royalty to the original patent holder of the vaccine," he said.