‘Snakebites Across Country, Do Something’: SC Directs Centre To Take States On Board

The Supreme Court on Monday addressed the widespread issue of snakebites in India, urging the Centre to collaborate with state governments to improve access to snakebite treatment, particularly anti-venom, in medical facilities across the country.

A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and S.V.N. Bhatti was hearing a plea concerning the critical shortage of anti-venom, which is essential for treating snakebites, a growing public health concern in India.

The bench emphasized that the problem is nationwide and advised the Centre’s counsel to engage state representatives in addressing the issue. “You can take the states on board. The problem is throughout the country,” the court remarked.

It suggested organizing a meeting with state officials to take proactive measures, stressing that this was not an adversarial matter but a pressing public health issue.

The centre assured the court that the steps taken would be documented.

Lawyers representing various states indicated they would file counter-affidavits, and the bench granted them six weeks to do so, scheduling the next hearing accordingly.

The petition, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, sought immediate action to ensure the availability of anti-venom and appropriate snakebite treatment in health centres, government hospitals, and medical colleges across India.

The petition highlighted the alarming statistic that India leads the world in snakebite fatalities, with approximately 58,000 deaths annually.

Despite the high mortality rate, the petition pointed out that anti-venom (polyvenom) is often in short supply, especially in rural areas, causing delays in treatment for victims. The plea called for the establishment of a national health mission dedicated to snakebite prevention and public awareness campaigns to reduce deaths, particularly in rural areas.

The petition also urged the creation of specialized snakebite treatment units in district hospitals and medical colleges, staffed with trained doctors and following standard medical protocols for treatment.

The court’s intervention signals the urgency of addressing this public health crisis and improving treatment response systems across the country.

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