Acute shortage of anti-rabies vaccines in Delhi govt-run hospitals, Health Min calls meet

Delhi government hospitals are facing "acute shortage" of anti-rabies vaccine due to a fall in drug supply, prompting the Centre to call a meeting of health officers and hospital incharges Friday, officials said.

The LNJP Hospital, GB Pant Hospital and other city government-run facilities are facing the shortage as the suppliers are unable to replenish the anti-rabies vaccine (ARV).

"The shortage of ARV at city government-run hospitals has led to patients thronging anti-rabies clinics at Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital and RML Hospital," a senior health ministry official told PTI.

The official said, a meeting chaired by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) was convened on Friday to discuss the situation, and the Delhi government officials were assured all possible help to tackle the crisis.

Medical Superintendent of LNJP Hospital, the largest health facility under the Delhi government, Dr Kishore Singh, told PTI, "There is an acute shortage of anti-rabies vaccine, and it is because of a fall in supply."
When asked, what could be the possible reasons for rabies patients coming in large number to hospitals, he said, "Number of street dogs seems to have increased."