Bhubaneswar: In a day of rapid development ahead of second phase of COVID-19 vaccination, the private hospitals empanelled under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) of the Odisha government have been allowed to function as COVID-19 vaccination sites.
In a letter to district collectors, CDMOs and PHOs, PK Mohapatra, additional chief secretary, Health and Family Welfare department has stated that the private hospitals empanelled under BSKY have been allowed as Private COVID Vaccination Centres (PCVC) for vaccination of eligible citizens.
The district officers have been directed to take immediate steps to verify that the facilities have minimum requirements to be able to operate as PCVCs. The requirements included sufficient cold chain equipment and capacity.
The facilities must have sufficient rooms or space to serve as waiting area, and observation post vaccination. Those should have sufficient number of trained vaccinators and verifiers. Besides, those should be equipped to managed the Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI).
As many as 183 hospitals across the state have been included in the list of PCVCs.
Earlier in the day, Mohapatra, in a letter had sought permission from secretary, Health Ministry for carrying out the vaccination in BKSY recognised private hospitals.
It may be noted that the Centre has allowed the private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) for COVID-19 vaccination. But the AB-PMJAY has not been implemented in the state.
