Himachal Pradesh: Private Hospitals reluctant to provide booster dose

Shimla: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has directed that people who have received their second dose more than nine months ago and are falling in the 18-60 age group are eligible to take a paid booster dose at any private facilities starting April 10. However, Himachal Pradesh's private hospitals are not showing interest and have not made any decisions yet.    

The private hospitals have yet to decide whether or not to give the service but the majority are adamantly against the decision to provide booster doses to the public.

In Shimla and Solan, there is now only one hospital willing to deliver the booster dose, one is Tenzin Hospital and the other is Baddi Malhotra Super Specialty Hospital which is located in Solan.  

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Dr. Surekha Chopra, Shimla's CMO told The Tribune "The dose will be given twice a week at Tenzin Hospital. Furthermore, no other hospital has approached us so far in this regard. Dr. Gagandeep from Solan said that "Private hospitals in Solan haven't shown any interest so far."

Not even Fortis Hospital and private hospitals in Kangra are ready to provide the service to the people. According to Gagan Sharma from Fortis hospital, no booster dose has been given at the moment but will soon start in a week or so.

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Meanwhile, Kangra CMO Dr. Gurdershan Gupta said "I have spoken with three hospitals which had administered the first two doses. They have assured me that they will come forward this time as well."

Despite the slow pace of the booster dose drive, NHM MD Hemraj Bairwa said "CMOs have been instructed to facilitate the drive. We will work out a strategy on how this can be done in the best possible way."

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