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Limit set for H1N1 vaccine charges

MUSCAT -- Private health clinics offering H1N1 vaccination jabs can charge no more than one rial from a customer seeking a vaccine shot. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of Health Ministry officials at the Department of Private Health Establishments on Sunday. The move, according to officials, is aimed at encouraging the widespread uptake of the H1N1 vaccine, which is now available free-of-charge to anyone -- Omani and expatriate -- desirous of getting immunised against the pandemic. "We have capped the fee that private clinics may charge their customers at one rial per vaccine shot.

A circular stipulating this price limit has gone out to all private health establishments participating in the vaccination programme," an official of the Directorate of Health Affairs (Muscat Health Region) said. Fourteen private health institutions in Muscat Governorate have been authorised by the Health Ministry to provide H1N1 vaccination coverage primarily to expatriate residents and other individuals seeking the shot. The participating private clinics are: KIMS Hospital, Al Raffah Hospital, Muscat Private Hospital, Atlas Star Medical, Apollo Medical Centre, Al Hayat Clinic, Hatat Health Centre, Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Al Rimah Medical Centre, Lama Polyclinic, Al Amal Medical and Health Care, Welcare Diagnostic Centre, Bahwan Health Centre and Alexandria Health Centre.

With the introduction of the one rial price cap, private clinics will be required to waive their registration fees, ranging from two to five rials depending upon the establishment concerned, when entertaining H1N1 vaccine requests, the official said. "We would prefer that private establishments offer the vaccine free of charge to their customers. After all, the vaccines are being made available free of cost to the participating clinics. But having received some feedback on the fee issue, we have decided to set the ceiling at an all-inclusive one rial per vaccine shot. The clinics have also been told not to turn away anyone seeking a vaccine jab."

The ministry has provided initial allocations of around 100 H1N1 vaccines to each of the private clinics, with commitments to replenish supplies when required. Private health establishments outside Muscat Governorate, with proven capabilities in vaccination management, too can sign up to the ministry's H1N1 vaccination programme, it is learnt. Achieving widespread vaccine coverage will help the population stave off any new upsurge of the pandemic, the official stressed. "With extensive H1N1 vaccine coverage, the population will develop 'herd immunity' against the disease, thereby helping mitigate the effects of any future outbreak. So it's vital that as many people as possible get vaccinated."

By Conrad Prabhu

© Oman Daily Observer 2010