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The Union health ministry has recognized snakebite as a critical health issue by officially notifying it as a disease under the National Health Mission (NHM). It mandates reporting of every case to facilitate better monitoring and management. This decision is part of a broader effort to address snakebite cases are treated with the urgency they require, ultimately improving outcomes for affected individuals.
The government’s decision to declare snakebites a notifiable disease is a landmark initiative, said Siddarth Daga, CEO, VINS Bio. The Million Death Study in India estimated that approximately 1.2 million people died from snakebites between 2000 and 2019, with nearly 58,000 deaths annually. Nearly half of the victims were aged 30-69, and over a quarter were children under 15, with most deaths occurring at home in rural areas. Eight high-burden states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, accounted for 70% of these fatalities.
Snakebite envenomation is a neglected tropical disease causing death and leaving thousands with life-altering disabilities. As a notifiable disease, the healthcare system gains the ability to collect accurate, real-time data, which is crucial for understanding the scale and regional distribution of the problem. This will enhance the allocation of resources, improve access to life-saving anti-venom, and facilitate timely interventions. Such measures will be particularly impactful in rural and remote areas, where snakebite incidents are most prevalent and healthcare access is limited, he added.
This initiative also aligns with the World Health Organization’s goal to reduce snakebite mortality and disability by 50% by 2030. Enhanced surveillance will enable the identification of high-risk areas, the development of targeted public awareness campaigns, and the establishment of effective supply chains for anti-venom distribution. Additionally, training programmes for healthcare workers will ensure swift and effective treatment of snakebite cases, reducing fatalities and long-term complications, Daga told Pharmabiz.
From a medical expert perspective, Dr Shailesh Shetty S, sr. consultant & incharge - emergency medicine, patient & clinical safety officer, Aster CMI said by making snakebite incidents reportable, the government aims to improve data accuracy, identify high-risk areas, and deploy better healthcare responses. Union health secretary emphasized that robust surveillance systems are essential to track incidents, mortality, and the socio-economic impact of snakebites.
“Recognizing snakebites as a notifiable disease is a crucial step. It ensures focused resource allocation, training for healthcare workers, and better patient outcomes, particularly in underserved regions. This declaration not only addresses a critical national issue but also strengthens India’s commitment to global health goals, ensuring that those at risk receive timely and effective care”, he added.
Noting that snake bites are a concern, Dr Chethan T L, consultant physician and diabetologists, Kinder Hospital said, “Even though most of the snake bites are non-poisonous, because of the lack of awareness of signs and symptoms of the first treatment patients often do neglect and access a hospital in a later stages where systemic complications would have already set in.”
Also the other important reasons why we see lot of problems in the treatment of snake bite is the unavailability of anti-snake venom. So, making snakebites notifiable helps in reducing the morbidity and mortality.
Various snake bites like cobra bite, viper bite, and Russel bite, they vary in presentation, complications and also they vary in the time and onset of symptoms and signs. Knowing and identifying the poisonous snake bites and treating them earlier is very important.
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