Supreme Court Reviews PIL for Public Awareness Initiative on Snake Bites
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New Delhi, Dec 13 (NationPress) The Supreme Court, on Friday, consented to assess a public interest litigation (PIL) that calls for the government to initiate a public awareness campaign regarding snake bites to mitigate the significant mortality rates in the nation, especially in rural areas.
A panel comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan issued a notice and requested feedback from the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare as well as all state administrations regarding the issue. Advocate Vishal Tiwari represented the petitioner.
The petition referenced a report from the World Health Organisation (WHO), titled “Study estimates more than one million Indians died from snakebite envenoming over past two decades,” which indicated that the nation recorded 1.2 million snakebite fatalities from 2000 to 2019 (averaging about 58,000 annually), with nearly half of the deceased aged between 30-69 and over a quarter being children under 15.
It further emphasized that the absence of accurate data on snakebite fatalities in India complicates the evaluation of the need for antivenoms.
“This results in national health authorities underestimating the demand for antivenoms, consequently diminishing the supply for snakebite medical necessities,” the petition submitted by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi stated.
The petition pointed out that the cases reported to health ministries via clinics and hospitals represent only a minor fraction of the actual burden, as many victims do not reach primary care facilities and remain unreported.
Moreover, the PIL pointed out that healthcare professionals and public health specialists cite various factors contributing to the snakebite crisis, including limited access to immediate first aid, dependency on “spiritual healers,” and a large segment of the rural populace residing near agricultural zones.
It urged directions for the provision of antivenom and snakebite treatments at primary health centers, community health centers, and district hospitals, along with government hospitals and medical colleges nationwide.
Additionally, it sought directives to establish snakebite treatment and care units staffed with specially trained physicians adhering to established medical standards in government district hospitals and medical colleges.
