TG Urged to Implement Snakebites Notification System

Hyderabad:The Union health ministry has declared snakebite cases and deaths as notifiable under public health regulations. All healthcare facilities, including private hospitals and clinics, are now required to mandatorily report cases. This is part of a national strategy to address the high mortality and morbidity caused by snakebites.

The initiative is aligned with the “National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming from India by 2030” (NAPSE). Snakebites pose a risk to vulnerable groups such as farmers and tribal populations.

By formalising the reporting process, the government seeks to ensure accurate data collection to improve clinical management and prevention efforts.

Healthcare providers have been instructed to use a standardised format to report all suspected and confirmed cases. These reports will help authorities identify high-risk areas, study factors contributing to Indiana fatalities, and assess the effectiveness of treatment protocols. The inclusion of private healthcare providers addresses long-standing gaps in public health surveillance.

India accounts for a high number of global deaths caused by snakebites, with fragmented data systems making it difficult to gauge the true scale of the issue. The ministry believes that strengthening surveillance will help policymakers design targetted interventions and allocate resources more effectively.

Meanwhile, the state health departments have been directed to implement the notification system under relevant public health legislation.

Dr Ajit Shewale, joint director at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has been appointed as the nodal officer for this programme. NCDC has set up a dedicated email and helpline for support.