Despite ‘availability’, patient told to buy anti-rabies serum from outside

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 11

Despite the availability of anti-rabies serum in the stock, a doctor at the Government Rajindra Hospital here today asked a poor patient to buy the serum from outside the hospital.

Damanpreet Singh (18) was sent back by the doctor saying that anti-rabies serum is not available at the hospital. The serum, which makes the vaccine effective, is needed when the wound is deep.

However, during a fact check by The Tribune, the Health Department disclosed that the serum was available in the stock at the hospital.

On May 7, a stray dog had attacked Damanpreet and inflicted him a grade-3 bite. Consequently, he required two doses of anti-rabies serum. Without serum, the vaccine is said to be of no use and the victim may die within a few days. Therefore, the combination of serum and the vaccine is must.

The doctor handed over a slip, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, to Damanpreet to buy the serum from outside. The slip had a stamp of the in-charge of the anti-rabies clinic of the Rajindra Hospital.

Damanpreet had to spend a sum of Rs 3,200 from his own pocket to buy the serum.

He said: “I was told repeatedly by the doctor at the Rajindra Hospital to buy the serum from outside. They don’t have medicines for poor people. Action should be taken against the doctor concerned for his behaviour and my money should be refunded.”

The doctor, who asked the patient to buy the serum from outside, said: “We tried the serum at the hospital on the patient, but it reacted. Therefore, we asked the patient to buy another serum from outside.”

This practice is a regular affair at the hospital and everyone knows about it.

Dr Paras Padove, Medical Superintendent, Government Rajindra Hospital, said: “I am not aware of the incident. However, I will look into the matter.”

In the evening, District Epidemiologist Dr Sumeet Singh Singh said the Patiala Health Department had already sought an explanation from the Rajindra Hospital. It also issued a warning to the said doctor to avoid such incidents in the future.