The Karnataka government has amended the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act, 2007, to strengthen legal provisions ensuring timely and lifesaving treatment for dog, animal, and snake bite victims.
The amendment follows the Supreme Court’s November 7, 2025, directions in a suo motu writ petition seeking uniform access to Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV), immunoglobulin and emergency care across all hospitals.
Invoking its powers under Section 11B of the KPME Act, the State has inserted a new clause—(iia)—into the Patients’ Charter under the Schedule of the Act. The newly inserted clause mandates that every private medical establishment must administer necessary first aid and provide lifesaving or stabilising emergency measures to all snake bite or dog/animal bite victims without insisting on advance payment. The provision also makes such hospitals eligible for reimbursement from the State government through the District Registration and Grievance Authority, at rates admissible under the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) scheme.
Anti-rabies vaccine
The amendment comes as part of a broader set of directions issued by the Health Department to ensure uninterrupted access to Anti-Rabies Vaccines (ARV), rabies immunoglobulin, and Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) in both public and private hospitals. The Supreme Court had earlier directed that “all government and private hospitals should maintain a mandatory stock of Anti-Rabies Vaccines and Immunoglobulin at all times”.
Rabies has been declared a notifiable disease in Karnataka, making timely reporting and treatment mandatory. The State reiterated its commitment to the national and global target of achieving “Zero Human Deaths due to Dog-Mediated Rabies by 2030,” stressing the need for standardised care irrespective of the health facility approached by the victim.
The government noted that snake bite deaths and complications remain a significant public health concern, requiring similar assured emergency care.
Directions
The key directions issued to all medical establishments include continuous mandatory stock (hospitals must maintain sufficient ARV, rabies immunoglobulin and ASV at all times); immediate care without advance payment (private hospitals must provide first aid and lifesaving emergency interventions to bite victims without demanding advance payment, in line with the amended Patients’ Charter and Section 11(1) of the KPME Act).
Besides, free initial screening and first aid should also be provided. Under the Karnataka Good Samaritan and Medical Professional Act, 2016, all hospitals must provide free screening, first aid, and essential stabilising treatment. Those lacking adequate facilities must stabilise the patient before referring them to the nearest suitable facility.
The government further cautioned that failure to comply with these obligations – particularly in cases leading to death – would constitute medical negligence. Criminal action may be initiated under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, 2023, which provides for imprisonment up to two years. In cases of serious or repeated violations, authorities may also revoke the licence of the medical establishment.
Published – November 15, 2025 09:47 pm IST
