After the vaccine stock ran out at the Provincial Health Supply Management Center in Hetauda, the vaccine has not been available at hospitals and primary health centers in 13 districts of the province, including the Madan Bhandari Institute of Health Sciences, Hetauda Hospital.
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Patients are facing problems due to the shortage of anti-rabies vaccine in provincial hospitals of Bagmati Province. After the vaccine stock ran out at the Provincial Health Supply Management Center in Hetauda, the vaccine has not been available in hospitals and primary health centers in 13 districts of the province, including Madan Bhandari Institute of Health Sciences, Hetauda Hospital.
According to Ishwar Mahara of the Vaccination Section of the Provincial Health Supply Management Center, there has been a shortage of vaccines for the past two to three months. 'Demand is coming from all sides, but we have not been able to provide it due to lack of stock,' he said.
In the current fiscal year, 15,000 vials of anti-rabies vaccine were received from the federal Ministry of Health for Bagmati Province. Although about 4-500 vials were added to the stock last year and distributed until Magh, the center has stated that the supply has completely stopped since then.
Although about 10,000 vials of vaccine are required for the province monthly, the supply has not been able to meet the demand. The problem has worsened due to the lack of supply despite the province's demand.
Due to the shortage of vaccines, Hetauda Hospital had purchased about 1 million rupees worth of vaccines from its own resources. The hospital's spokesperson Utsav Chaulagain informed that the process of purchasing 200 vials of vaccine worth 1 million rupees has now been initiated. It is said that it will take a few more days to arrive.
Due to the high demand for the vaccine against rabies, which is administered after being bitten by dogs and other animals, the stock runs out quickly. Patients are forced to visit private clinics and hospitals after not receiving the vaccine at government health institutions.
A single vaccination at a private health institution costs about 675 rupees, while three to five doses are required for a complete vaccination.
Bagmati Province Health Minister Kiran Thapa said that a tender will be called to immediately eliminate the shortage of rabies vaccine. He admitted that there is a shortage of rabies vaccines while relying on the federal government.
According to doctors, rabies is a very deadly disease and if the vaccine is not administered on time, there is a risk of death. Therefore, the concerned bodies have been urged to ensure regular supply of the vaccine.
