MUMBAI: Maharashtra government, which has introduced several patient-friendly measures during the
Covid pandemic, is considering offering free vaccination to most BPL families and the elderly with comorbid conditions. At present, the Centre has said
Covid vaccines will be given free of charge to healthcare and essential workers in the initial stages of the mass vaccination drive. A decision on pricing for the general population will be taken after 60% of the first phase is over.
However, state public health minister Rajesh Tope wants the price benefit to be extended to other vulnerable sections as well. “I have said at every video conference that vaccination should be provided free of cost by the Indian government. I will write to the union health ministry about this next week,” said Tope. His mail to the
Central health ministry will also highlight the need to disburse the remaining 7.7 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses for the state within the next 10 days. “We need 17.5 lakh vials to ensure 100% coverage for healthcare workers, but we have received only 9.8 lakh so far,” he said.
If the Centre doesn’t respond favourably, the state may consider taking up the task on its own. “BPL people are more vulnerable to Covid infection and are more likely to suffer a worse impact due to their poor immunity. Moreover, we don’t want them to ignore taking the vaccine just because it is unaffordable for them,” said Tope.
Roughly 30-35% of Maharashtra’s 11 crore population lives below the poverty line. If the youngsters are not included, roughly 50% of the 3.5 crore people living below the poverty line should be eligible for free vaccine, he added. Tope will take up the issue with CM
Uddhav Thackeray and deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Monday.
Since the pandemic began, Maharashtra has been at the forefront of introducing several patient-friendly measures, including capping the price of beds in the private sector as well as CT scans and plasma therapy. Maharashtra has the lowest price for RT-PCR tests in the country, after it was cut from Rs 4,600 at the beginning of the pandemic to Rs 700 at present.