Karnataka Requires Private Hospitals to Provide Lifesaving Care for Bite Victims

In a significant move, the Karnataka government has amended the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act, 2007, to strengthen legal provisions and ensure timely, lifesaving treatment for victims of dog, animal, and snake bites.

The amendment, which comes into effect on November 15, 2025, follows a Supreme Court directive issued earlier that month. The court had sought uniform access to Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV), immunoglobulin, and emergency care across all hospitals in the state.

Under the new clause inserted into the Patients' Charter, private medical establishments are now mandated to administer necessary first aid and provide lifesaving or stabilizing emergency measures to all snake bite or dog/animal bite victims without insisting on advance payment. These hospitals will also be eligible for reimbursement from the state government through the District Registration and Grievance Authority, at rates admissible under the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) scheme.

The government has also issued broader directions to both public and private hospitals to maintain mandatory stocks of ARV, rabies immunoglobulin, and Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) at all times. Rabies has been declared a notifiable disease in Karnataka, underscoring the urgency of timely reporting and treatment.

The state's move is part of its commitment to the national and global target of achieving "Zero Human Deaths due to Dog-Mediated Rabies by 2030," emphasizing the need for standardized care irrespective of the health facility approached by the victim.