Dog-bite victims are facing a lot of issue due to vaccines and serums going out of stock in the dispensaries of Chandigarh.
The two designated dispensaries by the local Municipal Corporation in sector 19 and 38 have no vaccines for dog bite victims. Even the emergency patients remained harassed as these health centres failed to provide immediate treatment to them.
No proper treatment for dog bite victims
Health centres in the city are not able to provide proper care to dog bite victims. They send traumatic victims to medical stores to buy vaccines. Besides the inconvenience and delay in the treatment, they charge extra from the poor patients.
One of the victims, Bharat Singh, a Sector 40 resident, shared his experience,
“I was bitten by a stray dog on my hand on Sunday. I went to the Sector 38 dispensary, but they told me they do not have the injection and asked me to go to the market and buy it. I am a poor man, so I preferred to go to the GMSH, Sector 16. However, there also I got the same reply and was told to try at the dedicated dispensary at Sector 19. There too, they were out of stock. I had to buy two injections — one costing over Rs 300 and another over Rs 400. I am told I still need more injections. It is appalling that the two dedicated dispensaries are without medicine. This may prove dangerous in case of an emergency,” he said.
Unavailability of serums and vaccines is common now
Dr Nisha Sahi, in-charge, anti-rabies clinic, Sector 19, said,
“Serums and vaccines went out of stock only a few days ago. It is a long process which involves tendering and inspection of medicines; so it has taken time.”
The Medical Officer of Health (MoH) of the Municipal Corporation, Parminder Singh Bhatti, did not respond to phone calls.
Over 50 cases reported daily
Around 30 to 40 dog-bite cases are reported daily at the anti-rabies clinic in Sector 19. Besides the dispensary at Sector 38 receives about 10 to 15 cases per day. Panchkula and Mohali patients also come here.
Reference: The Tribune
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