Bandipora, June 11: The shortage of anti-rabies vaccine in sub-district hospital Bandipora is forcing the attendants of dog bite victims to purchase the vital drug from the open market.
 “The anti-rabies vaccine has been out of stock in the hospital from the past many months forcing the attendants of patients to purchase the drug from the market at exorbitant rate,” sources said.
 They said, the hospital received five to 10 dog bite cases every month. “Despite being apprised about the shortage of anti-rabies vaccine in the hospital, the administration hasn’t done anything to procure it,” sources said, adding many of the poor patients’ attendants were unable to purchase the drug from the market.
 According to them, other health centres, receiving such cases were also facing acute shortage of anti-rabies vaccine.
 Sources said the hospital and other centres received last anti-rabies drug supply in February and before that in April 2010. “We received nearly 500 vaccines, but the stock was exhausted within three months,” they said.
 “During the last two months, we received 163 dog bites cases, which show the increase in such incidents,” they said.
 The attendants of these patients have accused the Government of playing with the lives of people. “The patients rue that while the Government is spending huge funds for eradicating diseases like tuberculosis, polio and AIDS, there are no funds to tackle the rabies,” they said.
 Admitting that the health centres in the district were receiving less supply of anti-rabies vaccine, Chief Medical Officer Bandipora, Bashir Ahmed Malik told Greater Kashmir, “The department is supplying vaccine as per the earlier requirements, but such incidents are increasing with each passing day and we need more vaccines to tackle the dreaded disease.”
 “We have informed the higher ups and have sought more supply. They have assured of increase in the supply within three or four days,” Malik added. 

Lastupdate on : Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST