Nasser hospital in Khan Younis was attacked by Israeli army for over a week in February, saying Hamas was holding hostages there
While the Indian government liberalised the Covid-19 vaccine segment by allowing existing manufacturers flexibility in setting the price, there is still a lot of confusion about the final cost of this essential medicine.
Many health activists are worried that the new system would make the vaccines dearer, and those between 18 and 45 — basically those not entitled to free vaccination — will end up paying high prices. Healthcare and frontline workers and those aged 45 and above will be entitled to free vaccines.
From May 1, when all those above 18 will be entitled to a vaccine shot, state governments and private hospitals can procure vaccines directly from manufacturers and pay the price that they demand.
Producers will have to allocate 50 per cent of their vaccines to the central government and the rest can be sold to the state governments, private hospitals and in the open market. Of course, the price for state governments will be far lower than those for private hospitals.
The centre will continue to allocate vaccines to states and union territories from its share, depending on their needs. At present, vaccines are free for all, but some are sold for people above 45 with a price cap of Rs250 in private hospitals.
From May 1, these hospitals will be charged more by the manufacturers and they will pass on the price to consumers who opt to get vaccinated there.
Indeed, many people are reluctant to stand in long queues outside public hospitals, fearing that they will be exposed to the virus at these places. These will not mind paying the extra price for a quicker vaccine shot, many in the pharma industry believe.
Nasser hospital in Khan Younis was attacked by Israeli army for over a week in February, saying Hamas was holding hostages there
The President was speaking at a graduation ceremony at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia
Martin Griffiths says battles near the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings in Gaza's south meant the vital routes are effectively blocked
The military launched a crackdown on the Rohingya minority there in 2017 which is now the subject of a United Nations genocide court case
Fresh signs of a cooling economy calmed inflation worries
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took third in the seventh round of the season
Six people including 90-year-old former Air Force pilot Ed Dwight will blast off to space from the Launch Site One base in west Texas
Usyk is the first boxer to become undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield in 1999