COVID-19 Vaccination: AB-PMJY Not In Place, Odisha Seeks Centre Permission To Include Private Hospitals Under BSKY

Bhubaneswar: Even as the Centre has allowed the private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) for COVID-19 vaccination, the Odisha government has requested to allow private hospitals under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) to function as vaccination sites.

Additional chief secretary (Health) PK Mohapatra, in a letter on Friday has sought permission from secretary, Health Ministry Rajesh Bhusan for carrying out the vaccination in BKSY recognised private hospitals as the AB-PMJAY has not been implemented in the state.

It may be noted that when the Centre launched the AB-PMJAY on September 23, 2018, the Odisha government had already started the BSKY on August 15 same year and hence did not implement the Central scheme.

Meanwhile, the country is set for second phase of COVID-19 vaccination that will cover people over 60 years and those with comorbidities to begin in March.

Unlike the first phase of vaccination which covered the health workers, this time, private hospitals will be able to administer the vaccines and charge for it, according to Health Ministry direction.

However, the Centre is yet to announce the cost of vaccination in private facilities.