Bengaluru: Price cut leaves private hospitals with vaccine stocks in a dilemma

BENGALURU: The slashing of Covaxin and Covishield prices as announced by the manufacturing companies to Rs 225 per dose is seen as a welcome move in the run-up to the commencement of the booster drive from Sunday. But it has come as a shocker for private hospitals in Bengaluru as they have more than one lakh doses that had been bought earlier.
“It’s very unfair to private hospitals which had bought vaccines at higher prices earlier.The companies should reimburse the hospitals the difference amount on the stocks that are already with us,” said Dr R Ravindra, who heads Suguna hospitals, which has a stock of 1,400 doses of both vaccines.
Dr HM Prasanna, president, Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA), said the matter will be discussed with the members. "It will be taken up further with the companies and the government. The hospitals have already incurred losses over the expiry of the vaccines and there is not much demand for the booster doses seen so far. There is no enthusiasm left among the private hospitals to procure them,” he said.
Private healthcare facilities, including Suguna and Sparsh hospital, have decided not to procure them further. Corporate hospitals like Manipal, Apollo hospitals told STOI that a decision will be taken based on the trend for the next couple of weeks.
“We will sell whatever doses we have at present and will not procure further. We have 11,000 doses of Covaxin,” said Guruprasad BR, director of strategy, Sparsh hospitals. He added the hospital faced the expiry of 40,000 doses of Covishield in March and incurred a loss of Rs 2.4 crore. On Saturday evening, the hospital wrote to Bharat Biotech seeking exchange of the vaccines with fresh stock and the credit notes for the difference amount.
Hospitals may stick to old price for now
There is no clarity on what is the price at which the vaccines will be billed in private hospitals on Sunday. The hospitals said they have been getting enquiry calls. “The price at private hospitals has not been decided yet,” said Dr Prasanna.
In all probability, the vaccines are likely to sell at an earlier price in private hospitals. “As of now, we have only Covishiled with us and the cost remains Rs 780, including service charges,” said Dr Yateesh Govindaiah,unit head, Apollo Speciality hospitals, Jayanagar.
Dr Prasanna Venkatesh MK, managing director, NU Hospital, said as the hospitals bought the vaccine stocks at the older price, the cost would remain the same. “The hospital has 1,000 doses of Covaxin and will be sold at Rs 1,410 per dose,” he said.
At Manipal Hospitals, strategic meetings were being held internally to discuss the sudden change of price. “It’s early to comment as there is no clarity yet,” the authorities said.
PHANA members said the best way to handle the situation is through the government supplying the doses to private hospitals. “Like the way it was done in January 2021, when the vaccination drive was launched, let the government procure vaccines and supply them. We are willing to join hands with the government and might even waive the vaccine administration charges,” said Dr Prasanna.