Health officials in Bengal informed that, every government-run hospital in Bengal has been added to an app that could enable patients bitten by snakes to quickly locate the closest government hospital with anti-venom stock using GPS monitoring.

The app also includes the phone details of snake rescuers who can assist in saving the snake to ensure an ecological balance. The app would help the victim know which hospitals have this anti-snake bite medication in stock so they may travel there. It also provides a first-aid guide on what to do and what not to do after being bitten by a snake, along with advice on how to stay away from snakes. The bilingual software offers users the choice of Bengali or English as their preferred language.

The Poison Information Centre at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital created the app with input from specialists. According to Somnath Das, professor and HoD of forensic medicine and toxicology at RG Kar, the app will make the availability of medical help faster and easier for snakebite victims and save many lives. (Times of India, Aug 10, 2022)