KATHMANDU, APRIL 21
Every day, around 200 patients visit Bharatpur Hospital seeking the anti-rabies vaccine. However, due to a severe shortage of the vaccine, they leave disappointed, risking exposure to the viral disease transmitted through the bite of rabid animals.
Binod Lama from Bharatpur Metropolitan City (BMC)-12 hurriedly brought his 11-year-old daughter, who was bitten by a rabid dog, to the hospital for vaccination. To his dismay, hospital staff informed him about the vaccine shortage, leaving him with no choice but to seek it elsewhere.
"It's absurd that the hospital is running out of vaccine! Where are we supposed to find it?" exclaimed Gurung. "They suggested we buy it elsewhere, but it's expensive, and we don't even know where to look."
Similarly, Sanjay Gurung from Bharatpur was bitten by a rabid dog while visiting relatives in Dhading. He received the first vaccine dose there but was unable to get the second dose at Bharatpur Hospital.
"At first, I couldn't believe the vaccine shortage until other patients confirmed it," he said. "What kind of vaccine isn't available in a public healthcare facility? Where are we supposed to find it now?" he questioned.
Bharat Gurung from Bharatpur-6 had to purchase the vaccine elsewhere when it wasn't available at the hospital. He paid Rs. 625 for a vial containing two doses, whereas the hospital charges only Rs. 300 for three doses, he reported. He shared that two patients often share a vial to reduce costs.
Dr. Ram Prasad Sapkota, the hospital spokesperson, admitted to the severe shortage, stating that it began on April 2 and the hospital is currently out of stock. Despite repeated notifications to provincial and federal authorities, no action has been taken.
The hospital used to receive 60 to 70 vials daily, but with the surge in dog bite cases, the shortage worsened. Patients from districts beyond Chitwan, such as Nawalpur, Dhading, and Gorkha, also leave empty-handed.
Sapkota mentioned they were told it would take two weeks to restock the vaccine, leaving them with no satisfactory response for patients.
Pradeep Adhikari, Chief of the Store Department, explained they received fewer vaccines than requested. With the increased demand, they quickly ran out of stock, leading to the suggestion for patients to seek vaccines elsewhere.
"When we requested 1000 vials from provincial authorities, we received only 80. Similarly, we received only 250 vials from federal authorities, which lasted only two days," he elaborated.
