Now, keep Aadhaar card ready for anti-rabies vaccine

KANPUR: In case a dog or a monkey has bitten you, keep your Aadhaar card ready to get the essential anti-rabies vaccine at a government hospital.

Director general of Medical and Health in directives issued last week has made it compulsory for the patients to show Aadhaar card at the time of first dose of anti-rabies vaccine from January 20.

Dr Umakant, director of Urusual Horseman Memorial (UHM) Hospital, one of the principal centres for anti-rabies vaccination, said even if Aadhaar hadn’t been made compulsory with immediate effect, people must have it with them as it would be required in near future for anti-rabies injection at government hospitals.

Also, free medicines from the hospitals would be given to the patients only after they submit their Aadhaar card, he said.

Kanpur government hospitals alone reported 46,800 cases of dog and monkey bites during 2017.

The three main government hospitals - UHM, Kamlapat Memorial, Kanshi Ram Memorial --and 10 community health centres were receiving about 135 patients of dog and monkey bites for anti-rabies injection per day in January this year.

“The demand at UHM hospital alone remains at 6000 anti-rabies vials per month,” said Dr Umakant.

It has been found that the hospital staff members often issued anti rabies vaccine vials in fake names and got them sold in the open market. The system of producing Aadhaar card is being introduced to check this as it would help to maintain a record of the patients who were given the vaccine shots. AK Sharma, president of Animal Protection Group and Veterinarians, however, said making Aadhaar card mandatory would be detrimental for a large number of people, especially those who are illiterate and belong to the below poverty line (BPL), as majority of them didn’t have any Aadhaar card.