KOLKATA: Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced free vaccines to the states from June 21, state health department officials pointed out that it could actually lead to a problem of plenty for Bengal since the state has already ordered a huge consignment of doses that is due to start arriving from June 11.
The central government on Monday also capped the service charges at Rs 150 per dose for private vaccination centres.
While the state government has already procured close to 21 lakh doses of vaccines since early May for inoculating people in 18-44 age group, payment has also been made for about 19 lakh more doses.
“Though the shift in policy change is welcome, this has come at a time when payment has already been made for about 40 lakh doses by the state government.
We are yet to get about 19 lakh more doses,” said a senior health department official.
He added that if more vaccines are sent by the Centre, they may not serve any purpose immediately.
“Their timing has turned out to be wrong.
We needed the vaccine early last month and will need them once we have exhausted the stocks that are now in transit,” an official said.
Since May beginning, the state governments have been mandated to buy vaccines on their own to inoculate the 18-44 age group while doses for people above 45 are being sent by the central government.
Even as everyone above 18 years of age are getting the doses for free from government centres, the state had to purchase them.
“This vaccination drive is for a national cause and hence regulating the service charge is fair enough,” said Peerless Hospital CEO Sudipta Mitra.
At present, majority of private hospitals across the city are charging between Rs 220 and Rs 300 as service charge for a dose.
“Capping the service charge is alright.
But why doesn’t the central government cap the vaccine price for manufacturers or subsidize it so that people have to pay less for it?” questioned Alok Roy, chairman of Medica Group of Hospitals.
Rupak Barua, group CEO, AMRI Hospitals also cited the inequality in vaccine pricing between what the government pays and private hospitals have to pay.
While the central government is procuring a dose of either Covishield of Covaxin at Rs150, privates hospitals are procuring a Covaxin dose for Rs 1,200 and Covishield for Rs 630 a dose.
“The inequality in vaccine pricing is too vast.
We hope something is done on this front and also private hospitals are assured of seamless supply,” said Barua.
“It is the objective of Narayana Health to vaccinate maximum people at affordable price.
We are already vaccinating on site at our procurement cost —Covishield at Rs 630 per dose,” said R Venkatesh, zonal director (east) Narayana Health.
Rupali Basu managing director at Woodlands welcomed the need-of-the-hour free vaccination drive announced by GOI.
“Vaccination remains a clinical process, and for private hospitals, the cost of vaccination not only includes the establishment cost, but cost of doctors and staff, logistics and cold chain.
Therefore, Rs 150 may not be enough; we commit to work seamlessly with the government in this urgent and important initiative of vaccinating India,” said Basu.
Bengal: Concern over temporary glut after new vax regime
