Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday (May 22) requested the Centre to cease supply of COVID-19 vaccines to private hospitals in view of the restricted availability of shares within the state.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jagan identified that private hospitals have been charging as excessive as Rs 2,000-25,000 for every vaccine dose from folks due to the flexibleness provided to them to repair the worth.
“This makes these doses one of the costliest in the world and invites criticism from the general public. Vaccine is for a public good and ideally it needs to be given free of cost or at least at affordable rates,” the Chief Minister mentioned, in accordance to information company PTI.
“In a situation where there is not enough supply to cater to even the 45-plus age group completely, and no possibility of taking up the free vaccination of the 18-44 age group for the next few months, it appears very unreasonable to allow some private hospitals to vaccinate people of all age groups at such exorbitant rates,” he complained.
The Chief Minister noticed that it was not solely an obstacle to the poorer sections of society who couldn’t afford such excessive price, however it additionally creates a scenario of black advertising and marketing of the vaccine, which administratively can be a Herculean job to management.
He mentioned making numerous choices out there to the general public to get vaccinated in each authorities and private hospitals can be a good suggestion provided that there was a surplus supply and availability of vaccines, the place anybody might select any mode in accordance to his selection and monetary affordability.
“In todays scenario, the place vaccine supply could be very restricted, offering this selection to private hospitals the place they cost an exorbitant worth is socially unacceptable and administratively tough to monitor.
I request you to look into the matter and dispense with the supply of vaccines to private hospitals in order that the complete inventory is offered solely to the state and Central governments,” the AP Chief Minister added.
Such a call can be extensively appreciated and generate immense goodwill to the federal government and arrest black advertising and marketing of the vaccines, Jagan famous.
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