Kathua hospital short of anti-rabies vaccine

Sanjay Pathak

Kathua, January 28

District Hospital, Kathua, has been facing an acute shortage of anti-rabies vaccine for the past over five months, forcing the patients to buy it from the market.

At District Hospital, Kathua, six to eight dog bite cases are reported on a daily basis. Attendants of patients complain that they are forced to purchase the anti-rabies vaccine from the market.

“Recently, my niece was bitten by a stray dog when she was returning from school. We immediately took her to District Hospital, Kathua, but paramedics on duty in the emergency ward asked us to buy the anti-rabies vaccine from the market as the hospital is short of supply,” said Sunit Singh, a resident of Ward No. 6 of Kathua town.

The government has initiated several health schemes for the welfare of the people such as the Ayushman Bharat Yojana but the shortage of vaccines exposes its claims, Sunit Singh said.

Giano Devi (55), who was bitten by a stray dog, said doctors had asked her to get six shots of anti-rabies vaccine. “I fall under the BPL category. The cost of one injection is Rs 330. I had to borrow money from a neighbour to buy the vaccine,” Giano Devi said.

Giano Devi said the government was providing no help to the poor people, who she said had to take loan for basic treatments.

“The anti-rabies injections are out of stock for the last five months. I have written to the higher authorities for supply of vaccine,” said Dr Ashok Choudhary, Kathua Chief Medical Officer.

District president of the Bharatiya Janata Party Prem Nath Dogra said as there was an increase in dog bite cases, the hospitals must have a vaccine stock.

“The Adviser to the Governor and the Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education, must take cognisance of the matter and ensure supply of medicines,” Dogra said.