Home / Health / Child denied rabies vaccine, family buys costly dose
Child denied rabies vaccine, family buys costly dose
9 Apr
Summary
- Toddler bitten by stray dogs, allegedly denied vaccine for three days.
- Family claims hospital staff demanded bribe for anti-rabies vaccine.
- Parents purchased vaccine for Rs168,000 when child's condition worsened.
A two-year-old boy, Faizan Ali, bitten by stray dogs on March 24, was allegedly denied the anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) at Bahawalnagar DHQ Hospital for three days. His father reported that hospital staff demanded a bribe for the vaccine.
As the child's condition worsened, his family claims they had to purchase the vaccine from the market for Rs168,000. The South Punjab health director general has now directed a transparent investigation, demanding a report within 24 hours.
The investigation will examine ARV availability, the circumstances leading to the market purchase, and identify any responsible staff. While some officials claim the child received ARV, others suggest a rare, more potent injection (human immunoglobulin) was needed and unavailable, prompting the market purchase.
Health CEO Dr. Shaukat Ali maintains ARV is available, but the rarer human immunoglobulin is not. He noted the family's stated purchase price of Rs168,000 for the immunoglobulin is significantly higher than its market value of Rs19,000. The incident highlights broader concerns about rising dog bite incidents in the region.
