Pvt Mumbai hospitals begin to opt-out of national Covid vax drive

Private hospitals with recently expired Covid vaccines have said that they will stop participation in the national vaccination programme due to the losses they have incurred. At least three of them— Surana Sethia Hospital (Chembur), Andheri’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, and Apex Group of Hospitals (Mulund and Borivli) — reported in February that their vaccines were set to expire in the first week of March.

Apex Hospital, which has close to 10,000 expired vaccines, said it would not participate in the programme anymore, citing a loss of ₹65 lakh. “We are now used to the indifference the government has shown towards hospitals and doctors. We have decided not to purchase any more vaccines,” said Vrajesh Shah, CMD, Apex Hospitals.

Prince Surana, CEO, Surana Sethia Hospital with over 50,000 expired doses, said, “Since the start of the vaccination drive last year, we have conducted many vaccination camps. But now we have stopped the purchase of Covishield. There is no point in purchasing and letting them get expired. Vaccines are a precious resource.”

As many as 157 million people have been vaccinated under the national Covid vaccination programme in Maharashtra.

Vaishal Shah of Malad’s Lifeline Multispeciality Hospital said they do not want to purchase Covid-19 vaccines anymore.

Gautam Bhansali, the chief coordinator of private hospitals for the vaccination and Covid, said a bulk of the vaccine stock at private hospitals in Mumbai was set to expire within one or two months.

Mangesh Pate, secretary, Indian Medical Association (Maharashtra), said Covid cases have dropped and vaccination has slowed down. “The government should take the short-term expiry vaccines from the private sector and give them in the areas where vaccines are required.”

Additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani last month said around 200,000 doses in the private sector were set to expire by June 2022. He added the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) would not be able to swap vaccines with private hospitals due to technical challenges.

The civic body has offered to provide support to private hospitals to administer doses at BMC-run vaccination centres. But the offer has received a lukewarm response.

The Centre issued a circular on February 23 asking states to consider exchanging near-expiry vaccine vials from private hospitals with long expiry vaccines. On February 25, the Maharashtra government said it would not do so. It added the private sector may donate their vials to the state to avoid wastage.

Close to 30,000 jabs are on average are administered at BMC’s vaccination centres while private hospitals were administering less than 3,000.

Gautam Khanna, president of an association of hospitals with 38 members in Mumbai, said private hospitals will be hesitant to purchase Covid vaccines. “…we cannot invest in vaccines and let them expire. We are hoping there will be a solution…”

Kishore Harugoli, chief compliance officer, Surya Hospitals (Santacruz), said they have so far administered 70,000-80,000 doses. “For now, we have stopped the purchase. Around 1,700 doses expired and we are waiting for guidelines to come on how to dispose of the expired stock.”

The hospital has approached NGOs and held vaccination drives in slum areas to ensure the vaccines are used. “Unlike our previous heavy purchase, we will study the demand [now] and buy small stocks. The vaccines have expiry dates within six months. Bulk buying will again mean wastage,” Harugoli said. Hindustan Times