Bhubaneswar: The Centre has accepted the request of the Odisha government and allowed 183 private hospitals empanelled under the Biju Swastya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) as vaccination sites for inoculation of elderly persons starting March 1.
Informing about the development, Additional Chief Secretary (health) Pradipta Mohapatra has directed the district Collectors, Chief District Medical and Public Health Officers to verify facilities at the Private COVID Vaccination Centres (PCVCs).
The officials have been asked to verify whether the health facilities have sufficient cold chain equipment and capacity, rooms/space for waiting area, vaccination and observation post-vaccination.
Besides, whether the centres have sufficient number of trained vaccinators and verifiers and the ability to manage the Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) as per the norms and guidelines of the Ministry will also be checked.
Mohapatra has also directed the officials to ensure that all the eligible hospitals should be registered as PCVC in COWIN 2.0 app within the timelines allowed by the Union Health Ministry.
While the vaccination will be provided free of charge at the government health facilities, it will be on a payment basis in the private health facilities at a rate as may be decided by the Centre from time to time.
It is pertinent to mention here that private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) have been allowed as Covid-19 vaccination sites by the Centre.
However, Odisha has not adopted the AB-PMJAY which has now emerged as a hurdle in getting permission for private hospitals in the State to start the COVID-19 vaccination drive.