New Delhi (NVI): With the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccination drive set to start from March 1, the central government has announced that a Covid-19 shot in private hospitals will be charged at Rs 250 per dose.
“Private hospitals functioning as Covid-19 vaccination centres may recover a charge subject to a ceiling of ₹250 per person per dose,” Ministry of Health said in a statement.
The vaccination drive, which began on 16 January, will enter its second phase on Monday with people over 60 years and those above 45 with comorbidities being able to get inoculated against Covid-19.
Government hospitals will carry out the drive at no cost, as it has been going on, but private facilities which are empanelled under Central Government Health Scheme, Ayushman Bharat and similar State Health Insurance Schemes will charge for the vaccines.
To ramp up the COVID vaccination capacity manifold, significantly large number of private facilities is being involved. Around 10,000 private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, more than 600 hospitals empanelled under CGHS and other private hospitals empanelled under State Govts.
So far, more than 1.5 core people have been vaccinated through 2,92,312 sessions, the ministry stated.
-CHK
