Free vaccination at private hospitals in TN
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu on Wednesday became the first state in India to start free ANTI-COVID-19 vaccination in private hospitals. Chief Minister MK Stalin, who launched the scheme, said 36,000 doses worth Rs23 million will be administered in the first phase at six hospitals.
Medical minis term sub ram an ian had persuaded corporates and health care providers across the state to provide vaccines free of cost.
Corporates will bear the cost for vaccines from their social responsibility funds.
The state government aims to tap the underutilised vaccines with private hospitals, which receive 25 per cent of the allocation from the Union government.
While only 5 per cent of vaccines are used at private hospitals as people do not wish to buy them for money, government hospitals which provide the doses free oten run dry.
Private hospitals are also allowed to sell vaccines at a price whenever there is a demand.
Tamil Nadu requires around 120 million doses to inoculate more than 60 million people over the age of 18 in the state. Till now, the state has administered only 20 million doses.
With the new scheme on, the state could get at least 700,000 additional doses this month.
Separately, minister Subramanian said he has directed the department to immediately start micromanaging operations in the 11 districts that sees a slight increase in new virus cases. A high-level meeting of district administrators, health officials, revenue and police officials was held online on Tuesday to take the stock of the situation in these 11 districts.
Health secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan said the state government is planning to vaccinate people from the most vulnerable sections of the society soon.
Healthcare workers would also be trained to cope up with a possible third wave of the pandemic.
Separately, Stalin approved the implementation of the 10.5 per cent internal reservation for the Vanniyar community, which boosts the Patali Makkal Katchi (PMK), an opposition party.
Vanniyars are categorised as Most Backward Class (MBC), but also hold considerable social and political power in the northern regions of the state.
Speculation is flying whether the DMK is wooing the PMK as the civic polls are looming.
A government order of July 26 states that the 10.5 per cent reservation will be ensured in both public and private education and in appointment to state government jobs.