Typically, timely treatment after a snakebite can save a life. However, the death of a young man in Chitrakhad, Uttar Pradesh, has raised serious questions regarding the functioning of public hospitals. An accusation arose that after the young man was taken to the hospital following the bite of a venomous snake, he was unable to receive necessary emergency care.
He was subsequently transferred to Prayagraj, but the young man died en route. Taking this case seriously, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sent notifications to the chief secretaries of all states and union territories in the country. The Commission requested information on the measures taken to ensure the mandatory availability of antivenom (ASV) in remote areas and locations where snakebites occur.
The young man in the village of Handeha, Chitrakhad, was bitten by a venomous snake. His relatives immediately took him to the district hospital. According to the complainant, he was not provided with antivenom in a timely manner. Despite his critical condition, the hospital lacked vital facilities such as a ventilator or an intensive care unit (ICU).
Afterward, the young man was transferred to Prayagraj. The complaint indicates that due to being transferred without adequate emergency transport support, he died on the way. This is regarded in the complaint as negligence in treatment and a lack of necessary life-saving resources. Demands were also made to conduct an impartial investigation into the responsible doctors and officials, as well as to pay compensation to the victim's family.
The NHRC directed the preparation of a report within two weeks. The bench chaired by NHRC member Priyanka Kanungo took this matter under control. The Commission demanded that the states and union territories identify high-risk areas where snakebites frequently occur, collect statistics on such cases, and ensure necessary medical services there.
Snakebite cases have also been recorded in Uttar Pradesh this year. In August, a person in Mahoba sought hospital treatment after a snakebite, and doctors began treatment promptly. In January, an auto-rickshaw driver in Mathura sought antivenom at the district hospital after a snakebite. Currently, the NHRC's focus is on ensuring that patients do not lose their lives due to the absence of timely necessary treatment in the nearest public hospital.