The shortage of anti-rabies vaccine, which is indispensable for treatment of dog bites in Sub-District Hospital Handwara has added to the nuisance of poor patients where they are being forced to purchase it from the open market at exorbitant prices.“In-spite of significant increase in cases of dog bite in the town the hospital has no stock of anti-rabies vaccines. The number of dog bite patients admitted in the hospital have been showing an upward trend and yet the hospital authorities pay a deaf ear to address this human problem involving lives of hundreds of people,” the attendants told CNS.
Confirming that the hospital lacks anti-rabies vaccines a doctor said on condition of anonymity said that rabies is a killer disease and once its virus attack a person he should reach hospitals within 48 hours for vaccination to save his life. He added that the infected and untreated patient may die within 10 days.The locals appeal hospital authorities to make the stock available in the hospital. Chief Medical Officer Kupwara advised dog bit patients to contact him in case of emergency. “There is no shortage of anti-rabies vaccines in the hospital. The complainants should contact me in case of emergency,” he told CNS.