Government Mandates Permanent Anti-Rabies Vaccine Stocks in Hospitals Nationwide
New Delhi: In a decisive move to combat the escalating public health threat posed by rising dog-bite incidents, the Centre has issued a directive requiring all government and private hospitals across India to maintain permanent stocks of anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). This mandate comes as part of a broader strategy to enhance medical preparedness and ensure immediate treatment availability for rabies exposure.
Comprehensive Protocols to Prevent Stray Dog Intrusion
The government has introduced extensive medical preparedness protocols aimed at preventing stray dogs from entering high-traffic institutional areas. According to official documents and government sources, these measures specifically target schools, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots, and railway stations. The directive, issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in December to all central ministries, departments, states, and Union territories, explicitly states: “All government and private hospitals shall maintain a mandatory stock of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin all the time.”
As part of this initiative, every institution is now required to designate a nodal officer responsible for campus cleanliness and ensuring that stray dogs do not enter or inhabit the premises. The contact details of these nodal officers must be displayed at entrances and notified to the relevant municipal bodies to facilitate effective exclusion of stray animals.
Understanding Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
Anti-rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin serve distinct but complementary functions in post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against rabies. The ARV stimulates the body to produce its own antibodies, providing long-term protection, while RIG delivers immediate, pre-formed antibodies for instant, short-term passive protection. This dual approach is critical given the fatal nature of rabies once symptoms manifest.
India possesses a substantial installed capacity to produce 53.6 million doses of ARV annually, as reported by the Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI). Leading pharmaceutical companies such as the Serum Institute of India, Bharat Serums and Vaccines, and Bharat Biotech are key manufacturers in this sector. The rabies-specific veterinary vaccine market in India is currently valued at approximately $37.6 million.
Addressing Supply and Demand Dynamics
A senior government official, speaking anonymously, acknowledged that while manufacturing capacity is sufficient, occasional gaps between demand projection and timely delivery by manufacturers can lead to stock-out situations. However, industry representatives have affirmed adequate supply. Sanjiv Navangul, Managing Director and CEO of Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd, highlighted that the company supplies over 130,000 doses of ARV and RIG monthly across India’s healthcare systems and has proactively strengthened manufacturing capacity to meet anticipated demand increases.
Dr. H.K. Goel, Secretary General of APCRI, emphasized that there is no shortage of rabies vaccines or serum in the market, with availability contingent on state procurement decisions.
Escalating Public Health Crisis
Rabies remains a significant public health risk globally, with dogs responsible for nearly 96% of human cases, according to the World Health Organization. In India, dog-bite cases have surged dramatically, rising 70% from 2,189,909 in 2022 to 3,715,713 in 2024. The crisis intensified in early 2025, with January alone recording 429,664 cases. Human fatalities have also increased sharply, from 21 in 2022 to 54 in 2024.
The stray dog population presents a complex challenge. While the 2019 Livestock Census estimated 15.3 million stray dogs, independent assessments suggest the figure could be as high as 62 million. In response, the Centre is intensifying efforts to curb the menace and may announce a dedicated national sterilization scheme for animal birth control in the upcoming Union budget.
Immediate Medical Attention and Treatment Protocols
Health experts stress that animal bites require immediate medical attention due to the risk of rabies infection. Dr. Dilip Bhanushali, President of the Indian Medical Association, warned that rabies is a critical medical emergency with a 100% mortality rate once symptoms appear, underscoring that immediate post-exposure vaccination is the only way to ensure survival.
Treatment involves administering the rabies vaccine for long-term immunity and rabies immunoglobulin for immediate protection. Government hospitals provide both free of cost, whereas private treatment can be expensive, with vaccine courses costing up to ₹2,500 and serum ranging from ₹1,500 to ₹8,000.
Institutional Responsibilities and Awareness Campaigns
Management teams for stadiums, sports complexes, railway authorities, state transport corporations, and municipal bodies overseeing bus stands have been tasked with deploying security and ground-keeping personnel for round-the-clock vigilance against stray dog entry. Additionally, all schools and educational institutions are required to educate students and staff on preventive behavior around animals, essential first-aid for bites, and immediate reporting protocols.
The government has also emphasized implementing proper waste management systems to eliminate food sources that attract animals and conducting regular inspections to detect and address stray dog presence.
National Rabies Control Programme and Industry Compliance
India’s National Rabies Control Programme focuses on strengthening surveillance, intersectoral coordination, medical training for animal bite management, and conducting awareness campaigns. According to Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, states and Union territories procured approximately 1.33 crore vials of ARV in the previous year, with 1.26 crore vials utilized.
Healthcare providers like Fortis Healthcare have affirmed compliance with government directives, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining essential vaccine stocks and adhering to mandated norms to ensure patient safety and public health preparedness.
This comprehensive approach underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the rabies threat through coordinated action, robust supply chain management, and widespread public awareness, aligning with the national objective of eliminating rabies by 2030.
