The suspension of free supply of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) to Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) by the Centre has created a dent on the annual budget of the hospital as it has been left with no choice but to spend from its own funds towards procurement of vaccines.
According to GRH sources, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had been supplying ARV, Human Rabies Immuno Globulin (HRIG) and other anti-rabies vaccines under the rabies control programme for long.
It also granted funds for training doctors and paramedical staff attached to government hospitals on anti-rabies immunisation. But the supply of vaccines was stopped abruptly in 2007 without any intimation.
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“The hospital is spending nearly 25 per cent of its annual budget for purchasing the anti-rabies vaccines,” said R. Balajinathan, Professor, Medicine, GRH.
“If the Centre supplies the vaccines for free, the burden on the hospital will be less and the funds could be utilised for buying many other life-saving drugs,” he also added.
The GRH receives around 100 cases of dog bites every day and children account for 40 per cent of those cases. It caters to patients with dog bites from all southern districts, including Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram.
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Hesitation among the staff of government hospitals in southern districts on administering immunisation vaccines was the reason why many got referred to GRH for treatment, thus leading to an increase in vaccine consumption, Dr. Balajinathan also said.
Dr. Balajinathan, who is a member of Association of Prevention and Control of Rabies in India, appeals to the Centre to resume the supply of free vaccines to the hospital.