Now, jab only at Ayushman-linked private facilities

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 10

With the fresh guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, only those private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme can purchase vaccine from the government and run the vaccination process at their hospitals.

The state government has informed all districts that henceforth all payments regarding vaccines will be made through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (Ayushman Bharat Yojana) website to the National Health Authority. Earlier, private hospitals not empanelled under the scheme were given a direct link of payment to the National Health Authority.

Punjab Medical Council former president Dr GS Grewal said: “All private hospitals were asked to join the vaccination drive and now that they are part of it, the government has issued such instructions that will only create confusion among people who got vaccinated at specific hospitals. This decision is uncalled for.”

Dr Bishav Mohan, senior cardiologist at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital who is also member of Covid-19 task force, said: “Earlier, all private hospitals were permitted to administer vaccine as the government wanted that people should have vaccination centres within their reach. With vaccination on the doorstep, the contribution of the government sector in the process is 80 per cent and that of the private sector is only 20 per cent.”

Ludhiana District Immunisation Officer Dr Puneet Juneja said they had received the new guidelines. Dr Kiran Gill, Deputy Director, Covid in-charge, said those who had already received their first dose would not face any problem. “As they are registered, they can get inoculated at any centre.”