Cash for jab: TN pvt hosps open ‘regn’ to jump vaccine queue

WILL AXE LICENCE, WARNS HEALTH SECY

Cash for jab: TN pvt hosps open ‘regn’ to jump vaccine queue

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:26.01.2021 

Private hospitals inviting ‘registrations’ for Covid-19 vaccination or trying to monetise the government-sponsored programme will have their licences cancelled besides facing action under the Clinical Establishment Act, health secretary J Radhakrishnan said on Monday. Priority for vaccines should be given strictly to eligible healthcare workers, he said.

Fewer than 40% of the daily targeted population have received the vaccine since January 16 and many private hospitals are opening “registrations”, sometimes with a fee, for those interested.

On Sunday, one hospital sent text messages to multiple clients seeking details such as name, date of birth, PAN card/passport and contact details to register for the vaccine. Hospital volunteers will upload and register names when the government portal opens, it said.

None except govt can register people

Chennai: “Charges, if any, will be based on the government’s direction as on the date vaccine is administered,” the message added. The health department has also received complaints that some healthcare providers were demanding a “fee” to put people on the “priority list.”

“The Union health ministry has approved two vaccines for emergency use. It gives every state the quota of vaccines and has released the operational guidelines. As of now, vaccinations can be done only for healthcare workers. We have allowed some private hospitals to vaccinate healthcare workers. The process of registering frontline workers is undertaken by the government. No one else is allowed to register names,” Radhakrishnan said.

Joint director (immunisation) Dr K Vinay Kumar said names of the healthcare workers were uploaded on the Cowin portal. “These people are given the vaccine. If names are not uploaded on the portal, the healthcare worker can prove the identity and take the vaccine. Their names will be uploaded into the portal later.”

After healthcare workers, frontline workers such as police and revenue officials will get the shot. “After them, priority will be for people above 50 years. We have written to the state election commission for the names of citizens above 50 as on January 1,” he said.