Aren't we all curious about how a private GP group can offer the new H1N1 vaccinations at price lower than the polyclinics?
For us who are private solo GPs, there are fixed costs to delivering the H1N1 vaccines or any vaccines for the matter. In fact , we cannot even match polyclinic's price.
Assuming we vaccinate our patients at cost of $18 (with GST), we will need to charge our patients $53 per shot ($18 cost of vaccine +$10 practice cost +$25 consultation) to cover cost. This is assuming we are using the single dose pre-filled syringe.
If we were to use the multi dose vaccine, we will have to factor in wastage as the vaccine can only be kept for 24 hours after opening. Then the price would even be higher.
It would be interesting to find out how the group do it. Pay their nurses, doctors and assistants less than the staff at polyclinic? Have very low rental for their clinics? Or whatever methods unknown to all of us including our low cost polyclinic colleagues.
Maybe MOH should assign this group to be designated as the H1N1 vaccination provider and negotiate for a lower price of $20 per shot as they will have economy of scale! And leave the rest of us to continue our care for our usual patients in the private sector as well as polyclinics.
Hmm, interesting that you mentioned those with fixed overheads and hidden overheads.
ReplyDeleteWe are all subject to different economies of scale and rental overheads. Perhaps, some may waive certain fees for deserving loyal patients but certainly not at the expense of proper consult and advice. need to pay nurses, other clinic assistants, cleaners, accountants and tax officers too!
I wonder if there is enough time given for advice or just factory production line injections by nursing staff.
JP
I know of one big chain used to administer flu shots by the staff nurses. Absolutely no consult even by the nurse. My friend's wife who is not a medical person was asked to report to the clinic to be jabbed. The best thing was she called her husband after the jab to find out what the jab was for...so much for ethics.
ReplyDeleteVaccines are administered by nurses in the polyclinic. There is a nursing service charge imposed, in this case not so much as to make money but to accord the nurse's time and service with a legitimate value.
ReplyDeleteThanks Irwin for the information. I fully support the charge for the services rendered by our nurses, pharmacists and other allied health workers. It has been far too long that we have been giving free services, so much so that people think that they are not up to par professionally.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, doctors must never waive their consultation. It is for their survival and their professional services and standards.
Waiver should be approved by medical social workers and not medical professionals.