Probe ordered into Bahawalnagar hospital over alleged denial of rabies vaccine to child

BAHAWALNAGAR: The director general of health for south Punjab has ordered the district health authority to investigate allegations that a toddler bitten by stray dogs was denied anti-rabies treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital, forcing his family to buy the vaccine from the market at a very high cost.

According to a social media post cited in the official correspondence, two-year-old Faizan Ali from Landi Wazirka village was taken to Bahawalnagar DHQ Hospital by his father, Akram, after being attacked by a pack of stray dogs on March 24. The post alleged that despite repeated requests to the hospital’s medical superintendent and paramedical staff, the child was not given anti-rabies vaccine for three days.

The post also alleged that hospital staff sought a bribe from the family in exchange for providing the vaccine. It further claimed that after the child’s condition worsened, the family arranged money and bought the vaccine from the market for Rs168,000.

After the matter came to notice, the chief executive officer of the district health authority constituted a three-member committee on April 4, headed by the district health officer, to examine the allegations. The committee has not yet submitted its findings.

On Wednesday, the south Punjab health director general directed the CEO to ensure a transparent inquiry and submit a report, along with documentary evidence, within 24 hours. The letter said the allegations against hospital staff, including not vaccinating children and demanding money from families for vaccines, were unacceptable.

The letter instructed the CEO to immediately form a committee to investigate the incident and said the child’s attendants or parents should also be included in the process.

Scope of inquiry

According to the letter, the inquiry committee has been asked to determine whether anti-rabies vaccine was available at the hospital at the time of the incident and to verify the claim that it was not accessible. It has also been directed to explain the circumstances that led the family to purchase the vaccine from the market and to provide details of the complete treatment given to the child, supported by documentary evidence.

The letter further asked that any staff members found responsible for lapses be identified.

Inquiry officer and District Health Officer Dr Safiullah told Dawn that the child had been given anti-rabies vaccine at the hospital, while an investigation was continuing into the alleged denial of a second rabies-related injection, human immunoglobulin (HI), which the family says it had to purchase from the market.

Health department officials said the child’s condition was serious and that the duty medical officer had advised administration of HI instead of standard anti-rabies vaccine. According to these officials, HI was not available at the hospital, is rarely used, and is stocked only at a few teaching hospitals in the province. They said the family obtained HI from the market and had the child immunised at a private clinic.

Health CEO Dr Shaukat Ali said anti-rabies vaccine was available at all health facilities in the district, including the DHQ hospital. He said HI was not available at the DHQ because of its rare use. He also said there was no indication that the family had the child vaccinated with the HI bought from the market.

Dr Shaukat Ali stated that the child received anti-rabies vaccine at the hospital, adding that this was supported by video footage. He further said the family’s claim that it bought HI for Rs168,000 would also be examined because, according to him, the vaccine is available in the market for Rs19,000.

Stray dog attacks highlighted

Separately, a pack of stray dogs attacked goats grazing in fields in Azam Chhina village, injuring more than six animals.

Concerns over increasing dog-bite incidents were also amplified by another CCTV clip circulating on social media, showing three stray dogs chasing and attacking a boy. Social media users said the footage was from Madni Colony in Bahawalnagar, where the boy was bitten while returning home from a seminary.

Local residents said they had repeatedly complained and staged demonstrations, but no action had yet been taken by the administration to address the issue.