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

A fall in drug supply has been cited to be the reason for this shortage which has also prompted the Centre to call a meeting of health officers and hospital in charges. 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).

Medical superintendent of LNJP Hospital, when asked what could be the possible reason or rabies patients coming in large numbers to hospitals said, “number of street dogs seems to have increased.” As a remedial measure, Delhi government has been asked to procure ARVs from Hyderabad-based facility, India Immunologicals Limited at a rate decided by the Centre, which is INR 180 per vial.

Delhi government has a requirement of 30, 000 vials of ARVs per month, which amounts to nearly one lakh vials in one quarter, according to the officials. Meanwhile, Safdarjung Hospital and RML Hospitals have also been asked to ramp up their stock of anti-rabies vaccines.