Mumbai: Private hospitals will now be able to buy a little more vaccines because the center has revised the formula to calculate the ‘maximum order quantity’ (MOQ), a week after first completing the plan.
Previously, it was decided that the monthly MOQ of the hospital would double the average daily consumption of one of their best weeks from the previous months.
The current limit has been upgraded to three times the average consumption, said state officials.
In a series of online meetings on Wednesday, central officials told private centers they could start booking through Cowin for the next few days in four installments or at once.
They should cook through Cowin from July 1, but have not been able to do it.
This center has developed two criteria to decide on the MOQ.
First, for hospitals that have been vaccinated since the last few months, the performance of one of the best weeks their best performance will be taken as a benchmark to get their MOQ.
Second, for newer centers, their bed capacity will be used as a criterion.
Hospitals with less than 50 beds can order up to 3,000 doses in 51-300 hospitals can order 6,000 doses, 301-500 beds in hospitals can buy up to 10,000 doses and hospitals with more than 500 beds can order 15,000 doses.
It has also been clarified that vaccine shipments can occur both from direct producers or through state or corporate shipping channels.
A head of a private hospital told TOI if they chose shipping through the state government or BMC, a hospital could put a minimum order of 160 doses of covaxin and 500 doses of covishield.
If they want to send directly from the manufacturer, they must order at least 2,880 covaxin doses and 6,000 doses of covishield.
Payment will go to the manufacturer directly.
Importantly, state immunization officials will have access to information about how many vaccine orders are placed by private hospitals, their payment status and how fast shipping will be done.
Another CEO of a private hospital said the new formula was logical, and driven by performance.
“It will stop hoarding,” he said.
He added that vaccination carried out through a tie-up would not be considered while deciding the feasibility of the maximum hospital order.
“This is purely based on vaccination carried out in the hospital,” he said.
State officials said because hospitals can order a minimum order of 160 and 500 doses, it will empower even smaller players to get a dose.
Dr.
Mangala Gomare, BMC executive health worker, said the supply of private hospitals could be simplified this week.