Mangalore: There has been an acute shortage of anti-snake venom (ASV) in the State as only a handful of vials are given to the Karnataka State Drug Logistics and Warehousing Society (KSDLWS).

KSDLWS is responsible to allot drugs to all government hospitals. However reportedly, the KSDLWS, had ordered for 90,000 vials against which only 500 were supplied. This bare minimal stock has to be supplied to all government hospitals across the State. These include general hospitals, taluk hospitals and primary health centres (PHCs).

There are several cases of snake bite deaths registered due to lack of availability of ASV vials. Most cases of snake bites are reported from the rural areas, where ASV’s are usually out of stock.

A KSDLWS official said, “They are the only two companies from whom vials can be availed. The government has requested them to supply 8,000 vials a month. They said they would be able to supply just 6,000 vials as procuring raw material for ASV has turned difficult.”

Moreover it is also learnt that in another two weeks, an additional 2,000 vials might be supplied. “We have placed the orders and the process has begun. However, not much has been made available now,” the official said.

Five hundred vials will be placed at the disposal of district hospitals. The other hospitals will have to wait. It may take another month for the vials to reach all PHCs, he concluded.

However when contacted the city’s government hospital – Wenlock Hopsital, the staff nurse on casualty duty said that currently there is an adequate number of venom and no shortage has been brought into notice for the time being.