Govt accepts NHRC recommendation on anti-rabies vaccine

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has accepted a National Human Rights Commission recommendation on the use of Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) for snakebites, dogbites and bleeding in emergency services.

This was conveyed through a communique from the ministry, the NHRC said in a statement.

It had recommended that there was a need to develop ''Emergency Medicines'' as a speciality to improve the emergency medical services in the country. Snakebite, dogbite and bleeding should be included in emergency services and their treatment be provided to all free of cost,'' it said.

The Commission had also recommended that approval should be given to the use of Intradermal Rabies Vaccination, as it will reduce the cost by 1/5th.

This recommendation formed a part of a number of recommendations, which came out at the end of the national review meeting on health, held in March.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has communicated that approval has been granted to the use of ARV in the country through Intradermal (ID) route.

The communication also said that the earlier order of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) regarding the number of patients attending these centers for allowing them to use ARV through ID route has been done away with.

It said the Drug Controller General of India has approved the use of ID route in the anti-rabies treatment centers which meet the following important criteria -- have trained staff to give ARV through ID route; have cold chain facilities for vaccine storage and supply of syringes and needles and are well-versed in hte management of open vial and safe storage practices.

The earlier order of the DGHS had said that ARV will only be provided to those hospitals which entertain at least 50 dogbites per day. The Core Advisory Group on Health of NHRC in its meeting on January 22, had also expressed concern on the DGHS order.

UNI