Rabies vaccine shortage hits Far West province

Dhangadhi: Far West Province is currently facing a shortage of rabies vaccines, with major hospitals and health institutions in Kailali and Kanchanpur running out of stock.

Seti Provincial Hospital, Mahakali Provincial Hospital, and Tikapur Hospital are among the institutions affected by the shortage. While the provincial government has indicated that limited supplies may still be available in some hilly districts, the overall situation remains critical.

The rabies vaccines, typically supplied free of charge by the federal government through the Provincial Supply Management Center, have not been delivered as expected. Jhanak Dhungana, Acting Chief of the Provincial Health Supply Management Center in Dhangadhi, confirmed the shortage, stating that the province has already exhausted its allocated budget of one million rupees.

Dhungana added that the federal government has recently invited bids for the procurement of rabies vaccines and assured that new supplies are expected to arrive in the Far West within a week.