Fri Dec 13 17:07:35 UTC 2024: ## Supreme Court Seeks Government Response on Anti-Venom Availability
**NEW DELHI, December 13, 2024** – The Supreme Court of India today sought a response from the central and state governments regarding a petition aiming to improve the availability of anti-venom and snakebite treatment across the country. The petition, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, highlights India’s alarmingly high rate of snakebite deaths—approximately 58,000 annually—attributing the fatalities to a widespread shortage of anti-venom.
The petition urges the government to launch a nationwide snakebite prevention health mission and public awareness campaigns, particularly targeting rural areas. The court issued a notice to the governments and scheduled the next hearing in four weeks. The justices emphasized the urgency of addressing this critical public health issue.
First Piper 