The Andhra Pradesh Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APMSIDC) has taken a decision to regulate the supply of anti-snake venom vials to Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the state and has decided to supply a maximum of only 10,000 vials to PHCs and tertiary hospitals in the state.

The decision came in the backdrop of recent misuse or unaccounted use of large quantities of anti-snake venom vials by some of the district hospitals because of which the APMSIDC has faced a severe shortage.

According to sources at APMSIDC, the state is facing a severe shortage of anti-snake venom vials as there is only one supplier and some of the PHCs in the districts are using excess number of vials than their maximum targets. For instance, among all the 23 districts in the state, the PHCs in Ranga Reddy have picked up 80,000 vials in just one month, while other districts have not even used 3000 vials over period of three months time in the last two years.

These discrepancies in the statistics clearly points out that there is some misuse happening amongst the PHCs in Ranga Reddy district. To curb the misuse and to ensure that no shortage situation arise in the event of dire need, the Corporation has decided to supply only 10,000 anti-snake venom vials per month to the PHCs in districts.

Earlier in an audit conducted by the corporation, it is found that Ranga Reddy district which is near Hyderabad has picked up 80,000 vials while PHCs in far away Adilabad district could not be supplied the anti-snake venom vials.

As per the standard usage shown over the past two years, the PHCs in the 23districts were supplied 400 to 500 vials in a three month period from March to May 2013. But in the March to May quarter, 11 districts picked about 800 to 1000 vials and remaining other 10 districts picked 2000 to 3000 vials. Based on these figures one can easily come to a conclusion that Ranga Reddy districts demand is exceptionally high and needs to be looked into as to what is the reason behind usage of so many vials.

M Ravi, managing director of APMSIDC said, “We have asked the Ranga Reddy district collector to enquire why such a large number of vials were needed and have also asked all hospital superintendents to ensure proper use of the vials.”

The anti-snake venom vials are available free of cost at all the government hospitals in the state. Each vial costs Rs.1000 in the open market. A minimum of five to 10 vials are required to treat a snake bite patient. At present there is only one company that is supplying anti-snake venom to all hospitals in Asia. With the production being an issue, the corporation is keen that the vials are not misused.