SC issues notice on plea seeking snakebite treatment at hospitals

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre, states and union territories to respond in four weeks to a petition seeking directions to make available anti-venom and snakebite treatment at health centres, hospitals and medical colleges to save lives of victims.

Issuing notice on the petition filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, a Bench led by Justice BR Gavai on Friday agreed to hear the petition that said the country faced a significant public health crisis due to the scarcity of anti-venom which was crucial for treating snake bites.

“India has the highest rate of snakebite deaths globally, with approximately 58,000 fatalities each year. Despite this much high mortality rate there is scarcity of anti-venom (polyvenom),” the petitioner submitted.

Many rural areas in the country lacked adequate stocks of anti-venom, leading to delays in treatment for snakebite victims, the petitioner said.

The plea sought directions to conduct snakebite prevention health missions and snakebite public awareness campaigns to reduce mortality, especially in rural India.

It demanded directions to establish snakebite treatment and care units along with special trained doctors as per standard medical norms in government district hospitals and government medical colleges.