NEW DELHI, Feb 27: While taking the Corona vaccine in the government establishments will be free for the senior citizens in the second round of vaccination starting from Monday, it may not be a very costly affair even if someone opted for private hospitals.
Though the government is yet to announce its final decision on the charges to be allowed to the private hospitals for vaccination, official sources indicated on Saturday that it should not be more than Rs 250 per person per dose.
Media reports quoting different official sources said the issue was discussed at a virtual meeting and training on Co-Win 2.0 chaired by the CEO National Health Authority and Union Health Secretary held on Friday.
The state government officials were told to try to net more and more private hospitals for the vaccination drive. “It was intimated that the service charge to be recovered by private hospitals acting as COVID Vaccination Centers would be subject to a ceiling of Rs 100 per person per dose. In addition, private hospitals will recover Rs 150 per person per dose as cost of vaccine. Hence, the total ceiling amount recoverable by private hospitals is Rs 250 per person per dose,” the officials said quoting the union health secretary.
This arrangement will remain effective till further orders, Vandana Gurnani Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has said. States/UTs have been advised to inform empaneled private sector hospitals about the charges and encourage their participation in the Covid-19 vaccination drive, the sources said.
(Manas Dasgupta)