Government hospitals in Tanahun are facing a shortage of anti-rabies vaccines, directly affecting the public who need the vaccine after dog and monkey bites. The government has not supplied the anti-rabies vaccine for the past month, forcing people to get vaccinated at private medical outlets by paying high prices. Dr. Paribartan Baral, Medical Superintendent of Provincial Hospital Damauli, stated that due to the shortage, the public has been compelled to purchase the vaccine from private medical stores at expensive rates.
People have had to pay over Rs. 600 more at private medical stores for a vaccine that is supposed to be free at hospitals. Dr. Baral said the hospital had requested 500 doses from the Provincial Supply Center but received only 40. He further mentioned that the hospital frequently faces shortages as the supply rarely meets the demand. In case of dog bites, people must take three doses of the anti-rabies vaccine.
The hospital administration has stated that the anti-rabies vaccine used to be supplied by the Provincial Supply Center and the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, but it has been reported that there is currently no stock available at those places either.
Although the vaccine is not available at government facilities, private hospitals in Damauli reportedly have sufficient stock. Raju Dahal, the operator of Lokpriya Medical in Damauli, stated that his hospital has an adequate supply of the anti-rabies vaccine. He mentioned that the vaccine is being sold for Rs. 635.