See Full Document Text
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARREDQUESTION NO. *82
TO BE ANSWERED ONTHE 24THJULY,2026
SHORTAGE OFANTI-RABIES VACCINE
*82. ADV.ADOOR PRAKASH:
Will the MINISTER OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the shortage of anti-rabies vaccinesbeing reported from many
States in the country, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has reviewed the situation and taken measures to ensure the availability
of anti-rabies vaccines, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of support and assistance provided to the States and UTs under National Rabies Control
Programme (NRCP)during the last five years and the current year;
(d) the details of measures taken by the Government to achieve the goal of eliminating dog-mediated
human rabies by 2030;
(e) the number of persons who have received anti rabies vaccine in the country during the said period,
State/UT-wise; and
(f) the details of human deaths reported in the country due to rabies during the said period,
State/UT-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIJAGATPRAKASH NADDA)
(a) to(f) AStatementislaidon the Table of the House.STATEMENTREFERRED TO IN REPLYTOLOK SABHA
STARREDQUESTION NO. *82FOR24THJULY,2026
(a) & (b): Health is a State subject. The primary responsibility for procurement, distribution and
ensuring uninterrupted availability of Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) andRabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) in
public healthfacilities rests with the respective State/UTGovernments.
The Government of India has not received reports indicating any nationwide shortage of Anti-Rabies
Vaccine. However, temporary local shortages may occur in some health facilities due to increased
demand, procurement delays or supply chain issues. Such situations are addressed by the concerned
State/UT Governments through redistribution of available stocks, emergency procurement and
strengthening of supply chainmanagement.
The Government continuously reviews the implementation of the National Rabies Control Programme
(NRCP) through periodic reviewmeetings with States/UTs.
Further, advisories are issued from time to time to all States/UTs to maintain uninterrupted supply of
ARVand RIGthrough fundsallocated underNational FreeDrug Initiative (NFDI).
(c): Under National Health Mission (NHM), the Government providestechnical and financialsupport to
States/UTs for strengthening their healthcare systems based on the proposals submitted by them in their
Program Implementation Plans, subject to norms & availability of resources. Under the NRCP funds
have been allocated through NHM to States/UTs under NFDI for purchase of RIG and ARV.
Procurementof RIG andARVisdecentralized.
Support under NRCP includes procurement of ARV and RIG, establishment and strengthening of
Anti-Rabies Clinics and wound-washing facilities strengthening rabies diagnostic laboratories, training
of medical officers and healthcare workers on rabies case management, strengthening surveillance and
reporting of human rabies, Information, Education and Communication/Behaviour Change
Communication activities and programme monitoring and review. State/UT-wise details of financial
approvals/releases during the last five yearsandcurrent yearmaybe seen at the link:
(https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1&sublinkid=1377&lid=744)
(d): Under the NRCP, the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 was
conceptualized and jointly launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with
the Department of Animal Husbandry,andDairying.
The measures takenunderNRCPtocontrol humanrabies are at Annexure.
(e): The data on the number of persons who have received anti rabies vaccine is not maintained
centrally.
(f): The States/UTs have been advised to notify Rabies as a notifiable disease and report rabies cases
& deaths on the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program-Integrated Health Information Platform from
time totime.However, state wise humanrabiesdeathdata isnot maintainedcentrally.ANNEXURE
Measurestaken undertheNational RabiesControlProgramme (NRCP):
CentralLevel Activities:
(i) Launch of the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030
(NAPRE-2030) jointly by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Department of
Animal Husbandry, andDairying.
(ii) Financial support to States/UTs under NHM for procurement of ARV and ARS,
establishment of Model Anti-Rabies Clinics, Wound Washing Facilities, surveillance,
monitoring,IEC activities andcapacitybuilding.
(iii) Strengtheningof 14rabiesdiagnostic laboratories.
(iv) Advisories to States/UTs for notifying rabies as a notifiable disease, strengthening
surveillance andensuring uninterrupted availabilityof ARVandARS.
(v) Constitution of National Joint Steering Committee for RabiesElimination.
(vi) Developmentanddissemination of nationalguidelines, SOPsandtrainingmodules.
(vii) Community awareness campaigns, IEC materials, observance of World Rabies Day,
andlaunchof a dedicated NRCPwebsite.
(viii) Launch of the Rabies Helpline (15400) in five States-Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya
Pradesh,Assam, andPuducherry.
StateLevel Activities:
(i) Development of State Action Plans for Rabies Elimination (SAPRE) through regional workshops.
Till date 7 states have developed their respective SAPRE-Puducherry, Rajasthan, Meghalaya,
Nagaland,Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka.
(ii) Establishment of 284Model Anti-Rabies Clinics.
(iii) Constitution of State andDistrict Joint SteeringCommitteesfor RabiesElimination.
(iv) Training of about 1.66 lakh healthcare professionals on animal bite management and rabies
post-exposure prophylaxis.
(v) Communityawareness campaigns,IEC materials,observance of WorldRabiesDay.
(vi) Implementation of the Rabies-Free City Initiative in 15 cities across six States with planned
expansion to114 cities.
*****