Home / Health / Mumbai Hospitals Fail Rabies Vaccine Mandate
Mumbai Hospitals Fail Rabies Vaccine Mandate
26 Jan
Summary
- Civic hospitals in Mumbai are out of rabies immunoglobulin stock.
- NMC mandates all hospitals must maintain rabies vaccine stock.
- Dog bite victims are being turned away or referred elsewhere.
As of January 2026, several Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hospitals are failing to comply with National Medical Commission (NMC) mandates regarding the availability of anti-rabies medications. Directives issued on December 29, 2025, following a Supreme Court order, require all hospitals to maintain mandatory stocks of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). However, hospitals including VN Desai Hospital, Cooper Hospital, and Jogeshwari Trauma Hospital have reported shortages of RIG in January 2026.
Rabies immunoglobulin is crucial for treating Category 3 dog bites, where deep wounds or bites on the upper body pose a high risk of the virus entering the nervous system. Without immediate antibody neutralisation from RIG, patients face severe neurological complications or death, as rabies is fatal once symptoms appear. The high cost of RIG has historically led to selective use, but current guidelines leave no room for interpretation.
Recent cases highlight the dangerous consequences of these shortages. In January 2026, an 18-year-old girl with a severe dog bite at VN Desai Hospital was referred elsewhere due to the lack of RIG. Similarly, patients at Cooper Hospital and a dog trainer seeking treatment at the same facility were also turned away or delayed. Jogeshwari trauma centre has flagged a critical shortage, with only two vials remaining, underscoring a systemic issue with procurement and stock management.
