Southern States - Kerala   

Immunisation scheme runs into controversy

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM Sept. 21. The immunisation campaign against Hepatitis, launched by the Kollam branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) last month in coordination with the Kollam-based Immunological Society of India (ISI), in the district is turning controversial.

The allegation is that though the IMA had publicised the programme as being service oriented through which the vaccine is being given at highly concessional rates, in reality both the Kollam branch of the IMA and the ISI had made huge monetary gains from the programme.

On this score, members of the IMA branch have questioned the credentials of the ISI as an organisation competent enough to launch such a campaign. For supporting the ISI in the venture, the Kollam branch of the IMA had been rewarded with a sum of Rs. 1 lakh. The amount paid by DD is yet to be encashed.

Differences of opinion over receiving the DD went to such an extent that the secretary of the association, C. Ashokan Pillai, tendered his resignation in protest.

The IMA had said that the vaccination programme forms part of its social service activities and that while the paediatric dose would cost Rs. 50, the adult dose would cost Rs. 100. However, the actual cost of the former dose works out to Rs. 32 and the latter costs Rs. 60. The whole purchase part of the dose was done by the ISI and promotion part by the IMA. Hundreds of persons got themselves vaccinated through the programme. However, the programme was later understood to be motivated by profits for both the ISI and the IMA. It was on the basis of this arrangement that the DD for Rs. 1 lakh was given to the IMA by the ISI. The kind of profits made by the ISI through the programme is not known.

When the IMA State president, P.T. Cheriyan, was asked for his comments regarding the issue, he told The Hindu that it was a matter pertaining to the Kollam branch of the IMA. However, he added that since his attention had drawn to the issue, he would look into it. The branch president, B. Gopalakrishnan, who received the draft from the ISI on behalf of the IMA, was not available for any comments.

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