Now, Aadhaar for anti-rabies vaccine in city

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 21

Aadhaar card will soon be made mandatory for receiving anti-rabies vaccine after a dog bite. The measure is likely to result in trouble for the patients, especially first-timers, who are not aware of the new set of rules.

The department had issued clear-cut instructions last year stating that the patients are required to submit a copy of their Aadhaar card while getting registered for the anti-rabies injection.

However, since many people are still not aware of the fresh guidelines, they come to the hospital unaware.

Arvinderpal Singh, one such patient, said, “In case of a dog bite, one rushes to the hospital.He will not go back home and bring his Aadhaar card.”

“The department should relax the rules and allow people to get the injection,” he said.

According to Arvinderpal, the patients are sent back by the government hospital and they have to buy the injections from the open market.

At government centres, the injection is provided free of cost.

As per the health records, around 2,000 cases of dog bites are reported every year. Most of the time, the government dispensaries too are out of stock when it comes to anti-rabies vaccine and the patients have to spend money at private hospitals or medical centres.

Civil Surgeon Dr Pardeep Chawla said the new rules have been framed to ensure that the patient is able to get the complete dose of the vaccine.

With Aadhaar, it would be possible to remind the patient of his next date for getting the dose in case he misses that.

Dr Chawla said in case of a shortage of vaccines, these are arranged locally and the patient is not allowed to suffer for want of it.

The Civil Surgeon said there is a need to create awareness among the residents of the city about the requisite formalities required to be completed for a particular service.