HIMALAYAN TIMES (Kathmandu, Nepal) 23 October 13 Deal to supply anti-snake venom in a month
Kathmandu: The government has signed a deal with a foreign company for the supply of 5,000 vials of anti-snake venom.
The Logistic Management Division of the Department of Health Services has inked the agreement with the company for the supply of the anti-snake venom within a month, said GD Thakur, Director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.
He said the supply will take care of the country’s emergency requirements.
Every year, the government imports 30,000 vials of the antidote from India to treat patients in a country, where around 3,000 people suffer snakebites each year and more than 100 die for want of treatment. The death rate is higher in Tarai districts compared to the districts in the hills.
He further said, “Last year, a company provided only 20,000 vials of anti-snake venom and failed to supply 8,000 vials as ordered.”
To meet the shortfall, the World Health Organisation donated 4,000 vials that were supplied to regions where number of snakebite patients is higher.
Thakur said the company concerned will supply 8,000 vials in two months.
A month ago, the government had informed that its plan to procure anti snake-venom had suffered with representatives of the supplier company remaining out of contact for long.
Dr Tara Pokharel, head of the Logistics Management Division at the Department of Health Services, had said, “The government’s plan to buy 5,000 anti-snake venom doses has hit a snag with company officials staying out of contact. If we cannot reach them within this week, we will contact another company and procure the venom as soon as possible.”
Link