Question : Snake Bite Cases

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken note of increasing number of snake bite cases and resultant deaths in States/UTs particularly Andhra Pradesh (AP), West Bengal and Bihar, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether AP is the second largest impacted State after West Bengal in snake bite cases, if so, the details thereof;

(c) the measures taken/special emphasis given by the Government to check/curb the impact of snake bite particularly in AP, West Bengal and Bihar; and

(d) whether Indian Council of Medical Research has constituted national task force for research on snake bites, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b): As per data from Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), State/Union Territory (UT) wise details of cases and deaths reported due to snake bites in the country including Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar during the years 2016 - 2018 are given in Annexure.

As per the said data, Andhra Pradesh is the second largest impacted State after West Bengal in snake bite cases in 2018.

(c): “Public Health and Hospital” are State subjects. Primary responsibility of ensuring availability of anti-venom injections / drugs in Public health facilities including Primary Health Centres and rural hospitals is that of respective State Government.


However, under the National Health Mission (NHM), Central Government provides financial and technical support to the States/Union Territories (UTs) for strengthening their healthcare delivery system. This includes support for free of cost essential drugs including anti-venom vaccination to those accessing public healthcare facilities upto district hospitals, under the National Free Drugs Service Initiative. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also issued directions to all the States / UTs to include Anti Snake Venom Serum (ASVS) in the list of essential drugs of the State, procure these drugs locally for supply to health facilities for use to the needy persons and support the same under the National Health Mission.


Government has issued directions to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to monitor the pharmaceutical firms producing Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) for ensuring regular supply to the States.

(d) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has constituted a “National Task Force for Research on Snake Bite in India” with the following national level multi-centric projects:
I. Nationwide Study to estimate incidence, mortality, morbidity and economic burden due to snakebite in India
II. ICMR National Snakebite Project (INSP) on capacity building of health system on prevention and management of snakebite envenomation including its complications.