India / Private COVID-19 vaccination centres can charge up to ₹250 per dose: Govt

New Delhi: As the nationwide covid-19 vaccination program is being expanded to all citizens above 60 years of age and those within the age bracket of 45 to 59 years with specified co-morbidities from Monday, around 10,000 private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), 687 hospitals under central government health scheme (CGHS) and other private hospitals empanelled under State government’s Health Insurance Schemes will be participating as COVID Vaccination Centers (CVCs).

Putting a ceiling on the charge for vaccination in private hospitals, the government said that the private hospitals functioning as CVCs can charge subject to a ceiling of Rs. 250 per person per dose along with the electronic and financial management mechanism in this regard.

Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary on Saturday convened a meeting with Health Secretaries and MDs (NHM) of States and UTs on the vaccination of age-appropriate groups through a video conference (VC).

“States were explained the three methods of registration i.e. Advance Self Registration, Onsite Registration and Facilitated Cohort Registration. User Names and Passwords to be provided to the private facilities to facilitate effective use of CoWIN 2.0, were also discussed during the meeting. In addition, mapping of private facilities with the nearest cold chain points to ensure seamless flow of vaccines to them was explained to the States," the union health ministry said in a statement.

The simplified system of certifying people with 20 co-morbidities within the 45-59 years age group was also explained to the States. The simplified one-page certificate to be signed by any registered medical practitioner is at annexure-1. The certificate can either be uploaded on Co-WIN2.0 by the beneficiary while self-registering or a hard copy can be carried by the beneficiary to the CVC.

The centre said that all the private health facilities which will serve as Government COVID Vaccination Centers must follow strict norms of due process, quality and safety including integration with the National Co-Win technology platform. All private health facilities must also have adequate space, adequate cold chain arrangements, adequate number of vaccinators and support staff and adequate arrangements for addressing Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI).

The centre said that the Health Departments of State Governments have already initiated dialogue with these private hospitals so that they can be encouraged to participate in this drive as CVCs. To ramp up the covid-19 vaccination capacity manifold, the government is involving significantly large number of private facilities.

In addition, there would be government health facilities which will be used as CVCs such as medical college hospitals, district hospitals, sub divisional hospitals, Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs), Health Sub Centers and Health and Wellness Centers. Geo reference maps with GPS coordinates of all these health facilities have been prepared that will serve as CVCs and these Geo referenced maps are being shared with the States. States can also use Health Facilities of all Public Sector Units (PSUs) and all Government Health Facilities as CVCs.