With the increase in dog bite cases, the central government has decided to include anti-rabies shots under the essential medicine list of the National Health Mission.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, dog bite incidents in India have increased by 26.5% year-on-year, from 2.18 million in 2022 to 2.75 million in 2023.

About 75% of dog bite cases are caused by stray dogs. While not all dog bites result in rabies infection, individuals bitten by dogs are usually advised to receive anti-rabies vaccine treatment to prevent rabies, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

Apart from anti-rabies serum, medicines for sickle cell disease and haemophilia are also included in the essential medicine list of the National Health Mission.

This means that medicines to treat these conditions will be made available at Ayushman Arogya Mandir (erstwhile Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centers or AB-HWCs), primary health centres, district hospitals, sub-district hospitals and community health centres.

NHM will now provide financial assistance for the purchase of medicines for sickle cell anemia, rabies and hemophilia patients with an aim to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. States have been urged to propose budget judiciously and monitor the quantum.

The inclusion of genetic blood disorders sickle cell anemia and hemophilia is one of the reasons why the central government is focusing on eliminating the disease and screening 7 crore people in mission mode in the next three and a half years.

Focusing on 17 selected states, the government has decided to adopt a “multi-pronged” approach to tackle the prevalence of the disease and cover the population aged zero to 40 years under the National Health Mission (NHM).

Conditions impose financial burden: Letter to states, UTs

According to the letter written by LS Changson, additional secretary and mission director, National Health Mission (NHM), sickle cell anemia, hemophilia and rabies are serious health conditions. “These conditions place a financial and emotional burden on families, underscoring the need for counseling, early diagnosis, and availability of medications for management and prevention.”

Sickle cell anemia is characterized by sickle-shaped red blood cells, anemia, and pain, while hemophilia causes reduced blood clotting. Rabies is a fatal viral infection.

To address the problem, NHM has revised the Essential Medicines List to ensure availability of sickle cell anemia drug hydroxyurea, anti-rabies serum, anti-hemophilia factor VII, VIII, IX and APCC (Activated Prothrombin Complex Concentrates) inhibitors in health care. has been modified. facilities.

‘Ensure availability and propose budget judiciously

This letter, written on January 16, has been sent to Additional Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries of all states and Union Territories.

It requests all states and union territories to ensure that hydroxyurea and anti-rabies serum are available at sub-centres and primary health centers (PHCs) and urban primary health centers (UPHCs).

Additionally, the letter requests availability of Factor VII, VIII, IX and APCC in Sub-District Hospital (SDH) and District Hospital (DH) as per the need and number of patients.

The letter said that under NHM, financial assistance will be provided for procurement of Hydroxyurea, Anti-Rabies Serum, Factor VII, VIII, IX and APCC to reduce out-of-pocket expenses due to sickle cell anemia and rabies. Hemophilia patients.

“States are requested to rationally propose their budgets for factors and APCC and closely monitor the quantum,” the letter said.