Liberalised pricing, accelerated COVID-19 vaccination strategy ensure vaccine equity: Centre

Calling the media reports alleging vaccine inequity in India's vaccination drive as "inaccurate" and "speculative" in nature, the Government of India on Saturday said liberalised pricing and accelerated national COVID-19 inoculation strategy ensures vaccine equity.

"A 'Liberalised Pricing and Accelerated National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy' was adopted on May 1, which is guiding the ongoing Phase-III of COVID-19 vaccination drive. It is reiterated that the Liberalised Vaccine policy, which envisages a larger role for the private sector and the Centre is setting aside 25 per cent of vaccines for the private sector. This mechanism facilitates better access and reduces the operational stress on Government Vaccination facilities in terms of those who could afford to pay and would prefer to go to a private hospital," said the Ministry of Health and Family welfare in a release.

The Ministry informed that as of June 1, private hospitals have received over 1.20 crore doses of COVID vaccines in the month of May 2021.

"As on May 4, 2021, a large number of private hospitals that have contracted with Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech have been supplied with Covishield and Covaxin doses. These private hospitals are not limited to the bigger metros but also from Tier II and III cities across States," it added.

The release said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is working closely with all States and UTs to make the COVID-19 Vaccination drive a success.

It stated that the states with less number of private hospitals have been requested to review the status in the states and list out the better performing hospitals under AB-PMJAY and state-specific insurance schemes, keeping a geographical spread in mind and encouraging them to get in agreement with the vaccine manufacturers.

Further, the health ministry said regular communication is also being done with all States/UTs informing them on the vaccines received by the private hospitals against the contracted doses so that their performance is closely monitored by the State/Districts.

"Also, a regular review is being taken with the manufacturers to follow-up on the status of each delivery that needs to be made to the states/Private institutions," it added.

( With inputs from ANI )