There is no supply of rabies vaccines in Rajbari 100-bed district hospital for the past 24 days. As a result, patients are being deprived of free vaccination services at the hospital. The patients cannot receive the government-provided free vaccine at the hospital and buying the vaccine and syringes at high prices from outside pharmacies.
Hospital authorities said that the vaccine supply remained halted not only at the district hospital but also at four other upazila health complexes in the district for a long time. Due to the absence of government-supplied vaccines, 2,790 patients at the district hospital have purchased the rabies vaccine from pharmacies and received treatment in the past 24 days. However, the hospital authorities assured that the vaccine supply will resume soon.
According to the Rabies Vaccination Center of the district hospital, a total of 1,940 patients received the vaccine from October 13 to October 31. Additionally, on November 7 alone, 119 patients, and in total 850 patients this month, received the vaccine. In total, 2,790 patients at the district hospital have been unable to get the government vaccine and have bought it from outside pharmacies to receive medical services over the last 24 days.
Al-Amin Sheikh, a resident of Mahadebpur area under Mizanpur union in Rajbari, said, the day before yesterday, I was bitten by a cat. When I went to the emergency department at the district hospital, the doctor advised me to get the vaccine. But when I went to room 203 on the second floor to get the vaccine, they told me that there was no supply, and I need to buy it from outside. Later, I bought the vaccine for Tk 500 and four syringes for 40 Taka from outside, then took the vaccine.
Several patients who came for treatment at the hospital expressed their frustration, saying, it is difficult for poor people to buy the vaccine with Tk 500. We came here hearing that the vaccine would be free, but found that there was no free vaccine available. We were then forced to buy the vaccine from outside.
Meanwhile, the in-charge of the Rabies Prevention and Control Center at the hospital, Senior Nurse Roushan Ara Akter, said, on average, about 100 patients who were bitten by dogs and cats come to the hospital daily to get the vaccine. Since there is no supply at the hospital, we are providing services to those who buy the vaccine personally.
Dr Sheikh Mohammad Abdul Hannan, the superintendent of Rajbari District Hospital, said, the number of patients is much higher compared to the vaccine supply at the hospital. Due to the lack of rabies vaccine, we have temporarily stopped administering the vaccine. We are trying to ensure that the vaccine supply resumes as soon as possible.
Dr Mohammad Ibrahim Titon, the Civil Surgeon of Rajbari, said the upazila health complexes have been facing a shortage of rabies vaccines for some time now. We have requested for more supply from Dhaka, and it is expected to arrive in the coming days. Once the government vaccines are supplied, we will be able to provide them free of charge at the hospital.
