Chennai: With government facilities offering free Covid-19 vaccines to people, the Tamilnadu government is now planning to extend it to private hospitals as well.
Tamilnadu Health Minister M Subramanian conducted a meeting with representatives of private hospitals in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode districts at the Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH) to discuss the feasibility of using corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to procure vaccines to inoculate the public free of cost.
Speaking to the media, Subramanian said that the government would hold meetings with private hospitals that are empaneled under the State government’s Comprehensive Insurance Scheme as well as with various private companies and other institutions.
The Minister said that the private hospitals are not using the vaccines fully, adding that while the Central government is buying 75 per cent of the vaccines manufactured in the country, 25 per cent are earmarked for private hospitals.
He added: “Funds from private firms and institutions were used for buying equipment and improving facilities in hospitals when the State was reeling under Covid-19. With the Covid-19 situation eased, the government is exploring possibilities of using CSR funds for free vaccinations through private hospitals.”