The Department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, Govt. of Jharkhand on March 02, 2026, notified regarding the Declaration of Snakebite Cases and Deaths as Notifiable Disease & Implementation of National Action Plan (NAPSE) 2030.
The following has been stated:
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, through the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has launched the “National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE) 2030” to reduce snakebite-related deaths and disabilities by 50% by the year 2030.
• India records the highest number of snakebite deaths globally, with an estimated 58,000 deaths annually, primarily affecting rural, tribal populations and agricultural workers. In response, the State of Jharkhand has implemented the Snake Bite Prevention and Control (SBPC) Programme from the financial year 2024–25 under the National Health Mission, ensuring the availability of Anti-Snake Venom at all healthcare levels, training of medical personnel, and community awareness initiatives.
• Further, snakebite cases and deaths have been declared as a Notifiable Disease, making it mandatory for all government and private healthcare institutions to report such cases to the District Health Authority and maintain data on the IDSP-IHIP portal.
• The notification also mandates regular reporting, record maintenance, and strengthening of surveillance systems to facilitate timely intervention, effective disease management, and informed policy-making to reduce mortality due to snakebites.
[Notification no. - 21-NHM(HD)-12-04/2025/28(21)]
