PANJIM: Following complaints that private hospitals are indulged in vaccinating non-healthcare workers, the State government has warned of discontinuing the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to these hospitals thus disturbing the entire immunisation programme.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that he will call for a report from the Health Department on the issue, which he is not aware about, for now.
Along with State run hospitals including Goa Medical College and Hospital, ESI, Hospicio, Sub-District Hospital Ponda and Mapusa, there are several private hospitals empanelled to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to their healthcare workers and Indian Medical Association (IMA) members, since the drive began on January 16.
So far, over 3,200 have been administered with the vaccine; under the first phase of vaccination drive. However, media report exposed that some private hospitals are involved in vaccinating their family members, with duplication of names, uploaded on the Co-Win portal.
In a press statement issued, the State immunisation officer Dr Rajendra Borkar pointed out that complaints have been received that some private hospitals have indulged in vaccinating those who are not healthcare workers and also those who are not registered on the Co-Win portal.
“This has been viewed seriously by the State government and the Government of India. The Health Department will be forced to stop providing the vaccines to such hospitals.”
