Anti-rabies vaccine shortage hits Nepal's Sudurpaschim province

Hospitals and health centers in Nepal's Sudurpaschim province are grappling with a critical shortage of anti-rabies vaccines, a vital emergency medication for individuals bitten by animals like dogs and jackals. This scarcity has persisted for two weeks, leaving service seekers in a difficult situation.

Hemraj Joshi, a vector control officer at the Sudurpaschim Province Health Secretariat, explained that while the provincial government had allocated 1 million Nepalese rupees for rabies treatment vaccines, the supply was only sufficient for two months. "But we are now facing a shortage," he stated.

Government hospitals traditionally offer anti-rabies vaccines free of charge. However, the current lack of supply means patients are compelled to purchase these essential vaccines from private hospitals and health facilities. The Social Development Ministry in the province has acknowledged the issue and has written to health offices, district hospitals, and local authorities, urging them to take measures to manage the vaccine supply.

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But we are now facing a shortage