Karnata Govt agency orders dispatch of 89,389 vials of rabies vaccine to hospitals
Bengaluru: In response to growing concerns over the shortage of emergency vaccines, the state health dept has initiated corrective measures to ensure the uninterrupted availability of anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) and anti-snake venom (ASV) across the state.
The move comes after several public hospitals reported dwindling stocks and delayed updates on the e-Aushada platform, triggering fears of delayed treatment for animal attack and snakebite victims—conditions that require immediate medical intervention.
Currently, 1.5 lakh vials of ARV are available in state-run hospitals. To further bolster supplies, the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation (KSMSCL), the nodal agency for procurement, issued an order to dispatch 89,389 vials of rabies immunoglobulin to hospitals across the state within the next two weeks.
Dr Raghunandan, deputy director of non-communicable diseases (NCD), told TOI that while some vaccine stock is available in hospitals, the larger supply for this year is still in the procurement stage at KSMSCL. "We realised the available quantity would not be sufficient for ongoing treatments. Instructions have been issued to ensure strict compliance with stock management protocols and real-time inventory updates in all govt health facilities," he said.
Asked about the readiness of storage infrastructure, Dr Raghunandan clarified that the department scaled up facilities to safely store the incoming stock. "We ramped up storage to ensure none of the vials goes to waste. Our focus is on 100% utilisation without unnecessary discards," he added.
Karnataka has reported 1.9 lakh dog bites and 16 related deaths, along with 4,786 snakebites and 36 fatalities so far this year.
To streamline the vaccine supply and prevent future lapses, the department issued a fresh set of operational guidelines to district health authorities and institutional medical officers. Facilities have been instructed to update patient-wise drug usage daily on the Aushada software, allowing real-time visibility of stocks and consumption.
Indents must now be raised strictly based on actual usage, not assumptions or stockpiling, to prevent hoarding and ensure equitable distribution.
District officials have been directed to monitor stock levels closely, track usage patterns, and intervene to avoid artificial shortages. Hospitals holding excess stock must redistribute it within their districts before placing fresh requests, and all local procurements must be recorded immediately on the Aushada platform to maintain visibility at all levels.
Compliance will be closely monitored by the district health officers and reported to the state's Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). The department warned that any institutional lapses in following these protocols will invite strict action.
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