Now Reading: Anti-snake venoms now in 108 ambulances across Andhra Pradesh
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Anti-snake venoms now in 108 ambulances across Andhra Pradesh
Anti-snake venom (ASV) will now be stocked in 108 ambulances across Andhra Pradesh for immediate pre-hospital treatment of snakebite victims. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced the decision on Saturday, citing 3,104…
The Story in Brief
Anti-snake venom (ASV) will now be stocked in 108 ambulances across Andhra Pradesh for immediate pre-hospital treatment of snakebite victims. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced the decision on Saturday, citing 3,104 emergency calls for snakebites received from June 2025 to date.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in the ambulances will administer ASV only after consulting a doctor at the Emergency Response Centre in Mangalagiri. A dome camera allows the doctor to assess the patient’s condition remotely. Director of Secondary Health K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu said EMTs have been trained to identify envenomation symptoms but must not give ASV without a doctor’s advice. The move aims to make better use of the golden hour for snakebite treatment.
The Indian Opinion
This move sounds sensible, but the devil is in the execution. Delayed or missed diagnosis by an EMT could waste precious ASV doses or harm patients. The government must ensure the remote doctor link works reliably in rural areas with patchy networks. The real test will be a measurable drop in snakebite deaths, watch the next quarterly health data for AP. How many doses have actually been deployed so far?
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
