EXPRESS INDIA (New Delhi) 10 September 06 Snakebite antidote tests likely at Sassoon
Pune: The State government-run Sassoon General Hospital (SGH) is likely to start a trial to test the antidote for snakebite prepared by city-based ayurvedic practitioner Dr Gita Pawar. The government plans to recommend further trials at Godegaon rural hospital in Ambegaon, Dr Y H Doiphode, Deputy Director of Health Service, Pune region told Newsline.
Pawar has done research on the anti-snake venom and the herbal tablet Pinak was successfully tested on more than 300 people at Karad and Satara, he said.
Dr P S Pawar, medical superintendent of SGH and Gita’s husband, when contacted said Doiphode had written to them about the government’s plan to recommend further trials at SGH and Godegaon rural hospital. Pawar said, ‘‘This tablet is made from mango, jambul, mogra and panjira and after testing at Karad’s sub-district hospital, it was extended to the private intensive care unit-run by Dr Sanjay Thorat and Dr Suvarna Patil at Walwalkar trust-run hospital at Ratnagiri.’’
Satisfied with the results and after treating more than 400 cases, Pawar applied for an Indian patent in 2004, and an international patent in 2005. They obtained the FDA license to manufacture and sell the tablet and started production of the medicine now available in Satara and Ratnagiri.
Dr Pawar, who was adjudged the best medical officer and conferred the Anandibai Joshi award for 2005-06, said one tablet cost Rs 400 and three tablets were adequate for dealing with bites of most snakes.
Snakebite antidote tests likely at Sassoon