The Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has introduced a rabies vaccine (ARV) called ‘Dow Rab’ to provide great relief to people bitten by dogs in Sindh.
According to reports, about one million people in Pakistan suffer bites from stray dogs every year, resulting in an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 deaths from rabies.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad has highlighted the need for more than 2 million doses of rabies vaccine (ARV) per year in the country, with a significant portion being imported from India.
Pakistan is facing a severe shortage of rabies vaccines (ARVs) due to price disputes. According to importers, the devaluation of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar justifies an increase in the prices of vaccines and other biological products.
However, regulators’ reluctance to raise prices has contributed to worsening the shortage crisis. According to officials, DowRab was made from imported raw materials.
They added that not only will it help address the shortage of antiretroviral drugs, but it will also be accessible to dog bite victims with a simple phone call. The officials further stated that the vaccine could be delivered as early as 48 hours after the first contact.
In the first phase, the facility was opened in Sindh and will soon be expanded to other parts of the country.