Bhopal: The government-run JP Hospital, the city's largest facility for dog bite treatment, is grappling with a severe shortage of anti-rabies vaccines. According to the latest stock figures, only 284 vials of vaccine remain as of Sunday, a sharp decline from 748 vials on April 20 — a 62% drop in just three weeks.
The hospital requires nearly 2,500 vials each month to meet patient demand. Doctors estimate the remaining supply will last barely 8 to 10 days. Additionally, the hospital holds 49 doses of equine rabies immunoglobulin, unchanged since April, which is far short of the need.
The Chief Medical and Health Officer's office has slightly improved its buffer, rising from 6 to 106 vials of vaccine, along with 63 doses of immunoglobulin. Yet, this combined stock is insufficient to cover the city's caseload.
Annual Dog Bite Cases Exceed 20,000
Bhopal records around 20,000 dog bite cases annually, with JP Hospital treating nearly half. The shortage comes at a critical time, following the blacklisting of a supplier by the Madhya Pradesh Public Health Services Corporation Limited (MPPHSCL), according to sources. The supplier was debarred after failing to deliver contracted rabies immunoglobulin injections, leaving frontline facilities scrambling for alternatives.
Doctors Warn of Out-of-Pocket Costs
Doctors warn that unless fresh consignments arrive immediately, patients may be forced to purchase vaccines privately, incurring out-of-pocket costs. “We are doing everything possible to stretch the available doses, but demand far outstrips supply,” said one senior physician, requesting anonymity.
Hospital authorities have remained silent on the issue, even as the crisis underscores the fragility of essential drug distribution. Meanwhile, municipal sterilisation efforts to control the stray dog population remain inadequate, with experts stressing that at least 60,000 sterilizations per year are needed to make a visible impact.
With stocks dwindling and procurement stalled, those impacted risk a public health emergency if urgent corrective measures are not taken.
