Private hospitals in Jharkhand are hesitant to pay upfront and procure Covid-19 vaccines and have, therefore, asked the state government to buy vaccines on their behalf so that these could be administered at prescribed costs from June 21 as per the new vaccine policy.

A government official said, “During a meeting with all private hospitals on June 14, this issue cropped up and everyone asked the state government to procure vaccines on their behalf. For example, one has to invest Rs 19 lakh for 3,000 doses (minimum prescribed quantity) of Covishield. Not many are keen on doing so fearing supply issues.”

As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on June 7, the Centre will provide vaccines for all adults to state governments free of cost from June 21.

Under the new rule, the Centre will procure 75 per cent of the stocks from manufacturers directly and allocate to states. The remainng 25 per cent can be bought by private hospitals to administer on their own. Private hospitals have directed to impose a maximum of Rs 150 as service charge in addition to the price of the vaccine while administering jabs.

While the per dose price for Covaxin and Covishield has been fixed at Rs 1,410 and Rs 780 respectively, the Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, will cost Rs 1,145 per dose in private hospitals.

Many private hospitals are, however, reluctant to pay high advances apprehending a slow response from residents, especially in rural areas, owing to the high price of vaccines, said officials in the state health department.

State director of National Health Mission Ravi Shankar Shukla has asked all civil surgeons to coordinate with private hospitals to know their requirements at the earliest. “A letter in this regard has gone to all civil surgeons two days ago. Based on their inputs and demands from private hospitals, the health department will communicate with the Centre,” he said.

Jogesh Gambhir, state president of Association of Healthcare Providers India (APHI), conceded that they would like the state to procure vaccines for them.

“Everyone is of the view that it would be better if the state government procures (vaccines) on our behalf and gives us on a day-to-day basis against daily advance payment. This will increase confidence of private hospitals as no money will be blocked and there will be zero apprehension of facing dead stock and expiry,” he said.