The Health Department of Karnataka has directed all government hospitals to provide Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) free of cost for all animal bite victims without checking the APL or BPL card.
Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services Commissioner issued a circular on Thursday in this regard and said that timely and appropriate treatment can save lives despite Rabies being a fatal disease.
"Elimination of dog-bite mediated rabies by 2030" is the mission of the National Rabies Control Program (NRCP).
Rabies was declared as a Notifiable Disease in Karnataka from December 5 last year.
In this regard, ARV and RIG, the main stay of treatment to prevent the fatal rabies disease, have been made a part of the annual indent supply by Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd and sufficient stock has to be maintained in all government hospitals, the circular said.
"No animal bite victim shall be denied treatment irrespective of their possession of APL/BPL card. Therefore, it is hereby directed to provide ARV and RIG free of cost as per requirement for all animal bite victims. The Medical Officers are instructed to judiciously use the RIG as per the NRCP recommendations," it added.
Bengaluru has a total of 2,79,335 stray dogs, according to a recent systematic estimation survey carried out by the city civic body.
(With PTI inputs)
