Health ministry supplies anti-rabies, antivenom vaccines to all provinces

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 29: The Department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Population has supplied anti-rabies vaccines and medicines used in the treatment of snakebites to health institutions across all seven provinces.

Dr. Pawan Jung Rayamajhi, Chief of the Management Division of the department, said that the medicines, which had already been procured and were in the process of being delivered, have now reached the provincial supply centres for distribution. 

Soon after news in media outlets regarding the shortage of vaccines and medicines for the treatment of rabies and snakebites, Minister for Health and Population, Pradip Poudel, instructed concerned officials to immediately manage the supply to avoid any shortage. 

He had called the officials and directed them to adopt all necessary measures to increase the pace of supply and to ensure there would be no shortage of medicines in the coming days. 

Accordingly, the Department of Health Services has supplied both types of medicines to all the provinces.

According to the data provided by the department, a total of 51,180 vials of anti-rabies vaccine have been delivered to the provincial supply centres.

The highest supply has been made to Bagmati Province. Bagmati has received 10,080 vials of anti-rabies vaccine and 1,000 vials of antivenom for snakebites. 

Similarly, Madhes Province, which faces a higher incidence of snakebites, has received the highest number of antivenom, 2,500 vials and around 5,000 vials of anti-rabies vaccine.

Spokesperson for the Ministry, Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, said that vaccines and antivenom have been supplied to other provinces based on demand.The Department has also informed that arrangements have been made to supply four times more vaccines than the current quantity within the next two months.