Union Health Ministry on Tuesday capped charges for administration of Covid-19 vaccines in private hospitals across the country. These revised prices include a maximum service charge of 150 rupees that each private manufacturer can levy.
The development comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced new vaccination policy for the country, stating that Centre would take over the state procurement quota and provide free jabs to state governments for inoculation of all above the age of 18 from June 21.
With the Rs 150 price cap in effect and inclusive of 5% GST, the revised prices are now as follows:
Covishield: Rs 780
Covaxin: Rs 1,410
Sputnik V: Rs 1,145
Each of these vaccine manufacturers is charging 5 per cent GST per dose.
Centre has also asked states to keep a strict vigil and not allow private hospitals to charge more than 150 service charge. It has also asked state governments to take action against any private vaccination centre for charging more.
Meanwhile, all government-run hospitals will provide vaccines for free to citizens above the age of 18.
Before announcing the revised rates for vaccine to be sold in private hospitals, the government said that it had been evaluating the implementation of the decentralised model of vaccination since its launch on May 1 and that the decision to centralise it again was taken after detailed deliberations and following requests by some states.
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Meanwhile, India on Monday recorded less than 1 lakh new cases after 68 days while the toll reached below 2,00,000 after 49 days. India recorded 86,161 new cases on Monday the lowest count since April 1. The cases were below 1 lakh on April 5.
India reports 86,498 new COVID19 cases, 1,82,282 discharges, and 2123 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Health Ministry.