NMC Issues Advisory to Medical Colleges on Rabies Management

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a new advisory to all medical colleges and institutions, directing them to undertake key activities under the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP). The advisory emphasizes that rabies, while 100% fatal, is also almost 100% preventable with timely and proper post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) . This initiative is a part of the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 (NAPRE), a joint effort by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.

Mandatory Activities for Medical Colleges

The advisory, issued by NMC Secretary, outlines five key activities that medical colleges and their associated hospitals must implement:

1. Periodic Training of Medical Staff: Institutions are directed to conduct regular training sessions for junior and senior residents, as well as medical students, on animal bite management and the administration of rabies PEP according to the latest national guidelines.
2. Ensuring Availability of PEP Logistics: Medical colleges must ensure the sustained availability of both Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Anti-Rabies Serum (ARS) for the timely and effective treatment of animal bite victims.
3. Maintenance of ABE Register: Each medical college is required to maintain a dedicated Animal Bite Exposure (ABE) Register to record all animal bite cases managed by the institution. A specific format for this register has been enclosed with the advisory.
4. Surveillance and Data Reporting: All animal bite cases and suspected human rabies cases must be promptly notified to the respective State Nodal Officer of the NRCP. This data must also be uploaded to the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) under the IDSP.
5. Awareness Generation: Medical colleges are instructed to actively promote rabies awareness by displaying IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) materials and videos in public areas such as OPDs, emergency departments, and waiting halls. These resources are available on the Ministry’s official website.

The advisory underscores the pivotal role of medical colleges in the national effort to eliminate rabies by 2030 through case management, surveillance, training, and community awareness.