There is an acute shortage of life-saving anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) for patients bitten by dogs, cats or monkeys at the Modern Sadar Hospital. For the past few days, hundreds of victims from the district and far-flung areas have been in trouble as there is no government-supplied vaccine at the hospital. Patients have complained that the vaccine is not available at high prices even in pharmacies outside the hospital.

No government services, excuse for ‘supply shortage’ Although according to the rules, this vaccine is supposed to be available at government hospitals for free or at a nominal price, in reality the picture is the opposite. The victims complain that whenever they go to the hospital, the officials directly inform them that there is no government supply. As a result, helpless patients are returning or are being harassed by brokers.

The general public complains that the usual excuse of ‘no supply’ is being repeatedly given by the concerned branch of the hospital. Outside pharmacies also lament When patients are running to outside drug stores without getting the vaccine at the hospital, there is no solution there either.

Even after visiting the big pharmacies in the city, the injection is not available. Many patients have complained that although some stores secretly have this vaccine, it is being sold at several times the price. It has become impossible for poor patients to buy life-saving medicines at this high price. A victim from Sadar Upazila, who was waiting on the hospital’s balcony, said, “I ran to the hospital after being bitten by a dog.

The doctor said there is no government vaccine. I went outside to buy it, but it is not there either. Now who will take responsibility if the poison spreads in the body? Are we worthless because we are poor people?” The authorities’ statement When contacted about the vaccine crisis, the hospital authorities said that this situation has arisen because the allocation is much less than the demand and the supply from the Central Drug Store (CMSD) has been stopped.

They assured that the service will be started as soon as the supply is received. According to public health risk experts, rabies is a deadly disease. Death is certain if the vaccine is not taken on time. The number of people bitten by stray dogs has increased in Netrakona district recently.

In such a situation, this terrible shortage of vaccines is putting the public health of the entire district at risk. The locals demand that the government should ensure the supply of rabies vaccines to the District Headquarters Hospital as soon as possible and increase monitoring to control the market.