Addressing a significant public health issue, the Supreme Court on Monday urged the Central government to collaborate with state authorities to enhance the availability of snakebite treatments across India. Justices B R Gavai and S V N Bhatti, presiding over the hearing, emphasized the widespread nature of snakebite incidents and the critical need for effective medical responses.
The court was responding to a plea highlighting the dire shortage of anti-venom in the country, which has the highest rate of snakebite fatalities globally, with approximately 58,000 deaths annually. The plea, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi through lawyer Chand Qureshi, argued that this scarcity poses a severe threat to public health, particularly in rural areas where medical facilities often lack adequate supplies.
During the proceedings, the Justices suggested that the Centre convene a meeting with representatives from all states to devise a comprehensive strategy to tackle this crisis. “It is not an adversarial litigation,” the bench noted, pointing out the collaborative effort required to address such a pervasive issue effectively.
The government’s counsel assured the court that steps being taken by the Centre would be documented and submitted for the record. Meanwhile, attorneys representing some states requested time to file their responses, and the court granted a six-week period to comply, scheduling the next hearing accordingly.
The petition specifically calls for the establishment of dedicated snakebite treatment and care units in government district hospitals and medical colleges, staffed by specially trained doctors. It also advocates for the launch of a snakebite prevention health mission and public awareness campaigns, aiming to reduce mortality rates, especially in the most vulnerable rural regions.
