Bhopal: Two main government hospitals are turning away dog bite patients, citing non-availability of lifesaving anti rabies serum. There is no treatment for rabies, it is only preventable. The anti-rabies vaccine and anti-rabies Serum should be freely made available in government clinics under National Free Drug Initiative Scheme. The immediacy of getting vaccinated after a dog bite cannot be understated. On the contrary, the citys largest tertiary care hospital has started referring patients in need of anti-rabies shots to the district hospital. Hamidia hospital OPD prescription reveals that patients were referred to JP hospital after basic treatment. The directions are both verbal and on paper and JP hospital does not even create an OPD registration citing Hamidia hospital prescription. In the case of a 35-year-old patient, the JP hospital doctors concur with Hamidia hospital opinion, going as far as dissuading the patient to get an anti-rabies shot. The patient reached both hospitals on September 25. Hamidia hospital tagged the dog bite case as unproved dog bite. Despite several attempts, the hospital superintendent, Dr Ashish Gohiya did not reply over the serious situation.I had no option but to purchase the injection (Equirab), said the dog bite patient. Rs 450 into four shots, is equivalent to what he earns in a week. Even children have not been sympathized. A 12-year-old boy, bitten by dog, reached Hamidia hospital on the night of September 6. He was also referred to JP hospital for anti-rabies injection. JP hospital informed his parents to purchase the injection from a pharmacy, citing non-availability of vaccine. Then again, Bhopal chief medical and health officer (CMHO), Dr Prabhakar Tiwari claimed, There is no shortage of anti-rabies serum. He was referring to JP hospital, which under the department of health has a centralised medical procurement set up through government owned corporation. In March 2022, MP government gazette notification declared Human Rabies an infectious disease for the State and as per provisions of section 51 of the said Act further declared human rabies as notified infectious disease for the State. Madhya Pradesh Public Health Act, 1949 has empowered district magistrates, CMHO and civil surgeon and hospital superintendents powers to exercise in this regard. We also published the following articles recentlyIn Delhi, schools told to create awareness on rabiesThe Directorate of Education in New Delhi has issued a circular to schools, urging them to educate students about rabies and dog bite protocols. The increase in dog bite incidents, particularly among school-going children, has prompted the need for awareness. The circular emphasizes teaching students what to do when approached aggressively by a dog, actions to take if bitten, and how to identify and report potentially dangerous dogs. The goal is to provide critical information to all students, regardless of their background, to enhance their safety and promote responsible behavior around animals.Hospitals get nod for long stay of patients under health schemeThe Rajasthan government has prepared a list of 225 medical packages for patient management, including room charges, doctors fees, and daily medicines. Hospitals can claim compensation for additional medicines and tests. The patients will receive cashless treatment, and the RGHS has allowed longer stays in the ICU and on ventilators. The process has been automated, according to officials.

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