The Union health ministry will announce the national policy on snake bites next month. The policy, prepared by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is intended to streamline timely administration of anti snake venom to the affected people throughout the country.

There are 13 snake varieties in India, which are highly poisonous and are of medical significance. These include cobras, russell viper and crates. The policy is also expected to provide guidelines for hospitals and research centres to preserve the dead species which will help to evolve effective treatment methods for different snake bites.

Annually in India, over 2.5 lakh people are bitten by snakes out of which 50,000 succumb to the poisonous venom. On an average, out of 100 cases, 70 bites would be non venomous while among the remaining 30 per cent, 15 per cent are reported to be instances where the snakes have not pierced their fangs, according to sources from Poison Centres at St John's Medical College Hospital, Victoria Hospital and Manipal Hospital.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India is one of the critical centres in the developing world which continues to report a high incidence of snake bites. The country is also known for its strong religious belief towards snakes leading to treating victims with prayers and other modes of worship instead of rushing the patient for timely medical intervention. In order to ensure higher survival rates, WHO is also coordinating with doctors from US and Australia to give their expertise in treating snake bites.

In India, there is a serious lack of awareness among the public and doctors at primary health centres (PHCs) and district hospitals on snake bites, stated Dr Ian Simpson, WHO expert who is running a snake bite treatment programme in India.

Commenting on the high fatality in snake bites, Dr Ammar Raza, physician, working for an MNC stated that in most cases there is delayed administration of anti snake venom. People are bitten late at night and there is inordinate delay in shifting the case to a medical centre. Once the venom enters the blood stream, medication is ineffective. Therefore, timely intervention is required to neutralize the venom.

While there is adequate availability of anti snake venom at large hospitals and district health centres in the country, there is a serious doubt on the method of storage. Anti snake venom which comprises of antibodies could be destroyed in high temperature conditions making it less effective, decreasing chances of survival, stated Dr Raza.

According to Snake Bite Specialists and Casualty Medical Officers at corporate and government hospitals in Karnataka, in most cases people use tight band around the area which has been bitten and they try to suck out the poison. The best method is to immobilize and seek immediate medical attention.

Another fault in treating snake bit cases in India is wrong doses of snake venom. What is needed is to train the doctors and the supporting staff with proper knowledge as bites from different species of snakes may need different treatment, stated the WHO expert.