New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and other relevant authorities to respond to a petition calling for the provision of anti-venom and snakebite treatment at health centers, hospitals, and medical colleges to save the lives of victims. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan agreed to hear the petition and issued notices to the Centre, states, and union territories, seeking their responses.
The bench stated, “Issue notice, returnable in four weeks.”
The petition, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, highlighted the country’s serious public health crisis due to the shortage of anti-venom, which is essential for treating snakebites.
India has the highest number of snakebite-related deaths globally, with around 58,000 fatalities annually. Despite this alarming mortality rate, there is a significant scarcity of anti-venom (polyvenom), the petition noted.
It also pointed out that many rural areas across the country lack sufficient supplies of anti-venom, causing delays in the treatment of snakebite victims.
The petition calls for the implementation of a snakebite prevention health mission and public awareness campaigns to reduce mortality, particularly in rural regions. Additionally, it urges the establishment of dedicated snakebite treatment and care units in government district hospitals and medical colleges, staffed with specially trained doctors following standard medical protocols.
