‘REGULATE PRICES FOR VACCINES AT PVT HOSPITALS’

MUMBAI: Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) in April priced Covishield at ₹600 per dose for private hospitals. After adding service cost, few private hospitals have started inoculating citizens between the age groups of 18 and 44 years at ₹700 and ₹900 per dose. While the extra charge is not illegal, the uneven and unregulated pricing of Covid-19 vaccines has raised concerns among doctors and health activists, who are calling for a price cap on vials.

Amidst shortages of vials, only three private hospitals—hl Reliance, (Girgaum), Nanavati (Vile Parle) and Apollo (Navi Mumbai), who had placed their order for vials to SII months ago, have been able to start the inoculation programme. These hospitals are charging ₹700, ₹900 and ₹850 respectively after including charges for transportation, procurement, storage and service.

A section of doctors, however, fear that hospitals in the absence of guidelines or a price cap may use the opportunity to “unethically” charge a higher price range for vials. “While all major and smaller private hospitals are struggling to get hold of the vials, a few hospitals have turned into major providers of the vaccines. This gives them the upper hand to decide on the pricing,” said Dr Prince Surana, chief executive officer at Surana Group of Hospitals. Santosh Marathe, chief operating officer at Apollo Hospital said their cost for a jab includes the cost of transportation, maintaining the cold chain and service charges. Nanavati Hospital was unavailable for a comment, and HL Reliance Hospital refused to comment. N Ramaswamy, commissioner of the National Health Commission, said, “As there are no specific guidelines, the hospitals decide their own vaccine prices. But they have to upload the price on CO-WIN for the public to decide. So far, the state health department hasn’t personally decided to put any price cap,” said Ramaswamy. “With a cap on pricing, private hospitals won’t be able to able use it to exploit the public,” said Brinelle D’souza, senior faculty, Tata Institute and co-convener, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan-mumbai.

Meanwhile, SII has informed a few private hospitals that it would take five-six months to supply Covishield. In response to an email sent by Dr Surana, SII replied, “...Due to our current obligation to meet the government’s existing requirements, we urge you to access the vaccine when it becomes available in the private market supply chain channels which will take about 5-6 months from now.” SII refused to comment on the issue.