No takers for paid vax: Pvt hosps ask NMC to buy their stock for use at free centres

Nagpur: Though the number of city private hospitals joining the Covid vaccination programme has increased to 25, with all three vaccines available, the drive appears to have suddenly lost steam in paid centres. Contrary to this, vaccination is going at a brisk pace at the over 150 government centres in the city.
In the last few days, the total achievement of 25 private centres was at around 400, which is almost equal to what just one or two private centres were reporting some time back.
Buoyed by the good response and enthusiasm of citizens, more private hospitals joined the drive and ordered large number of doses. Left with huge stock of doses now, private hospitals are saying the civic body must purchase these doses to avoid wastage and ensure its drive does not stall.
The ultimate goal, they say, is to achieve total vaccination. Last month, Pune Municipal Corporation had purchased surplus doses from private hospitals to keep the drive going when supply from the government fell short.
However, municipal commissioner Radhakrisknan B ruled out the possibility of the civic body buying doses from private hospitals having surplus stock. “Government is supplying us sufficient doses. We have requested to increase our quota to plan sessions even better,” he said.
The civic chief added that already over 11 lakh first doses have been administered in the city. “Around 18 lakh is eligible population. Rest could be those who still have hesitancy, working outside, or may have tested positive. We are in a good position right now. We are aiming to reach out to at least 17 lakh,” he said.
Vidarbha Hospitals Association (VHA) convener Dr Anup Marar said many private hospitals proactively responded to the government’s appeal and procured Covid vaccines under the 25% private allocation scheme. They were to deliver them at Rs150 plus cost of vaccine as stipulated by the government, to help vaccinate maximum Indians before the anticipated 3rd wave.
“Unfortunately, it looks like people are not ready to pay even the subsidized charges. Moreover, NMC is having problems ensuring consistent supply to handle the overwhelming crowd for free vaccination in their centres. In such a scenario, NMC should ideally approach all private centres, who are flush with vaccines, and give them the option to offload their vaccine stock to them at purchase price,” Dr Marar said.
He added, “This will be a win-win situation for all as it would be grave injustice and national loss if precious vaccines having only 9-month shelf life available at private centers expires. It should rather be used judiciously for needy citizens at NMC centres.”
The VHA convener suggested that NMC can even pay for the vaccine as per purchase rates to private hospitals and citizens can be asked to pay only Rs150 as vaccination charges to all private hospitals. “This will add to NMC list of vaccination centres and give a big push to the drive as many will be ready to pay Rs150 rather than Rs780. This system was successfully followed during Phase 2 of vaccination drive.”
BOX
Vaccination in city
Total | 15.96lakh
Govt centres | 14.83lakh
Private | 1.12lakh
Vaccination of entire Nagpur district
Total | 28.70 lakh
First dose | 21.11 lakh
Second dose | 7.59lakh
Monday’s data for city
Govt | 11,315
Pvt | 737