Covid vaccination: Rs 150 cap on service charge not enough for off-site camps

The service charge for vaccination has been capped at Rs 150 for the private hospitals, and it may not be adequate for an off-site vaccination drive set up by the hospitals, a government official said.

According to the revised guidelines, private hospitals can charge a maximum of Rs 150 as a service charge per dose above the fixed price of the vaccine.

Prices after the Rs 150 per dose cap (inclusive of 5% GST)

Covishield: Rs 780

Covaxin: Rs 1,410

Sputnik V: Rs 1,145

Off-site vaccination camps require more manpower and resources

The cap of Rs 150 service charge is not enough in case of vaccination camps that are organised at housing societies, corporate offices, ‘near-to-home’ facilities, or any other premises outside the hospital.

According to a TOI report, a governmental official has said that while most hospitals are ready to vaccinate people within the existing set-up, the cap of Rs 150 service charge may not be adequate for organising ‘near to home’ off-site camps planned by them, including those with corporates, in residential housing societies, or even drive-in vaccinations.

Private hospitals have asked the Centre and state governments to bring clarity on the issue to enable them to dedicate resources in the direction.

For vaccination within the hospital, Rs 150 as a service charge is enough to meet the costs. But it is also important to see if the hospitals are not burdened and paying from their own pocket.

Dr. Charu Dutt Arora, care expert at Sarvodaya Hospital and Research Centre, has said that the price cap is fine for vaccination at the hospital but to organise camps or sessions outside of the hospital would require more manpower, resources, and other overheads.

Expansion of sites will be feasible only if some leeway is given at least for off-site sessions.