Rabies Vaccine Shortage Sends More Patients to Shukraraj Hospital

A nationwide shortage of rabies vaccines has led to a rise in patients seeking treatment at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku, Kathmandu.

Hospital director Dr Anup Bastola said people from districts including Sindhupalchok, Dhading, Kavrepalanchok, Nuwakot and Rasuwa have been travelling to the hospital after local health facilities ran out of vaccines.

According to hospital records, 6,947 people received rabies vaccinations at the hospital in the month of Jestha alone. Officials say procurement delays have disrupted vaccine supplies across the country.

The Department of Health Services said efforts are under way to procure new vaccine stocks and address the shortage. Infectious disease specialist Dr Sher Bahadur Pun warned that the crisis is affecting low-income communities the most and called for an immediate solution.

The World Health Organization estimates that rabies causes around 59,000 deaths globally each year. In Nepal, more than 60,000 people receive rabies vaccinations through government health facilities annually.