KOCHI: Even as the health department has said that preparations have been completed in about 300 private hospitals for the second phase of the Covid vaccination programme set to start on Monday, the private hospitals have said no official order has been issued yet.
“As the second phase of vaccination drive covers the population of persons above 60 and those with comorbidities in the age group 45 to 59, the involvement of private hospitals is regarded essential for the safe conduct of the rogramme in the stipulated period.
"All the district vaccination units have been instructed to build partnerships with private sector hospitals, industries. The details are getting worked out,” said a release from the Health Department. Most of the private hospitals where the arrangements were already done are empanelled hospitals offering Karunya Arogya Suraksha Paddhati (KASP).
“We don’t have immediate official confirmation from the state government on the role of private hospitals in the second phase of the vaccination. However, as per Central government guidelines, private hospitals will be involved and we expect that as the second phase progresses we will ultimately be roped in for timely completion of the vaccination drive,” said Dr Jayakrishnan AV, chairman, Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) committee for vaccination promotion and coordination.
Though the state government has been conducting meetings with the private hospitals, there is nothing on paper. “Most of the private hospitals with facilities are prepared to be part of the vaccination drive and they were involved in vaccinating HCWs and now government staff selected for election duty. However, we have informed the state government that we should be allowed to charge for the services offered even if the vaccination is offered free by the state government,” added
Kerala Private Hospital Association former president Dr PK Mohamed Rasheed.