Set price for private jabs

HOSPITALS AGREE TO STANDARDISE COST OF COVID VACCINATION

>>Covid-19 vaccine shots provided by private hospitals will be charged at a standard price including insurance for any side effects, according to the Private Hospital Association (PHA).

“The reason the price will be set the same nationwide is to get many people as possible vaccinated. It is not about making profits,” said Dr Chalerm Harnpanich, the PHA president.

The PHA will gauge the demand for paid vaccine and inform the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) which buys the vaccine supplies from manufacturers.

He said the private hospitals should not open vaccination bookings until they get hold of their supply to avoid confusion.

Dr Chalerm said he had no idea when the paid vaccine rollout will be made available.

The standard price will also include service fee for each hospital and insurance for any side-effects.

Talks were held with insurance firms, he said, adding coverage would start right after the first of two doses are administered. The insurance would then be valid for 90 days and would not cost more than 100 baht.

Before the price can be determined, the cost of vaccine must be known first, according to Dr Chalerm.

Many private hospitals were surveying demand for the paid vaccine among patients, he added.

As for the manufacturer, the PHA president said the US-based Moderna is in the process of applying for registration with Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after submitting its application on April 19.

The company is expected to be granted a licence to distribute the vaccine soon.

Meanwhile, China’s Sinopharm vaccine has yet to seek registration with the FDA as it has not appointed a representative company in Thailand.

India’s Bharat Biotech is also on the list of companies which has filed for registration.

Yesterday, GPO deputy director Sirikul Metheeveerangsan claimed that manufacturers would only sell their vaccine to a state agency because of its rapid production and lack of clarity over potential side-effects.

Ms Sirikul said the companies preferred that governments shoulder the risk of distribution. After registrations are granted by the FDA, details will be fleshed out and agreed upon as to how much and when the vaccine will be supplied to the GPO.