Greater Noida: As people stayed indoors because of the second wave of Covid and the resultant lockdown, the demand for optional vaccines such as for Hepatitis A, typhoid, cervical cancer and Japanese encephalitis has dropped drastically.
With these vaccines not available at government facilities, the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida is now offering 20-50% discounts on these jabs.
The hospital wants to reach larger segments of people, especially in the rural areas of Greater Noida, who do not have access to advanced healthcare facilities.Brigadier Dr RK Gupta (retd), director, GIMS, said, “With number of Covid cases down, we have begun focusing on upgrading and enhancing our facilities for the economically weaker section, especially those living in rural parts of Greater Noida.
Being the only government centre in this region, we have started to offer the optional vaccines at affordable rates.”GIMS is offering Hepatitis A vaccine for Rs 1,000 as against Rs 1,600, which is normally charged at private facilities.
Typhoid conjugate that costs Rs 1,945 is being offered at Rs 900 at GIMS, while vaccine for cervical cancer is being given at 2,350 and Japanese encephalitis at Rs 600.
“We are extending the discounts offered on procurement by a healthcare facility to patients so as to encourage more patients to avail the benefits at our hospital,” said Dr Gupta.
“The demand has been less, especially since the Covid outbreak.
Because these vaccines are disease specific, mostly private hospitals offer them at different rates,” said Dr NK Sharma, president of Indian Medical Association, GB Nagar.