The Draft Colaba

By Anushka Singh

Apropos The Draft report 'State Must Step In To Help The Poor With Co-Morbidities To Avail Vaccine' published on 02 March 2021, in Mumbai the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and government hospital authorities have now directed their doctors to provide, for free, the 'Certification of Co-morbidity' in a prescribed format for the purpose of obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine. This is expected to further the spirit of the 'free' vaccination programme which, in the event of the certificate being charged, defeats the entire purpose of the exercise.

So, individuals who can afford may access their family physicians for a certificate of co-morbidity for a charge while the poor have the option of availing the same from a doctor at a municipal dispensary or a government hospital without having to bear any expenditure. All he will need to do is, carry some record of his condition of co-morbidity to satisfy the doctor.

The welcome move comes on the heels of private hospitals being permitted to deliver the vaccination along with government hospitals and empanelled private hospitals and, now, around the clock, in keeping with mandatory requirements, to swiftly facilitate the vaccination process across the nation.

Mumbai, on its part, adds Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre, Breach Candy Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital, Saifee Hospital, P D Hinduja Hospital & MRC, Masina Hospital, Jaslok Hospital, Fortis Mulund and 20 others which were not empanelled in PMJAY, CGHS or State Health Insurance Scheme (MJPJAY) and have shown willingness to be part of the COVID vaccination drive.

Viewers may download this form, print it out and approach a registered medical practitioner treating him or, now, a municipal doctor or a government doctor for certification of co-morbidity. The certificate can either be uploaded on Co-WIN 2.0 by the beneficiary while self registering or a hard copy can be carried by the beneficiary to the COVID Vaccination Centre (CVC).