The National Medical Commission (NMC) has mandated that all government and private medical colleges and institutions across India maintain a constant supply of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). This directive, issued on December 29, 2025, follows a Supreme Court order addressing the increasing number of dog-bite incidents within institutional settings.
The Supreme Court's decision arose from a suo motu case based on a report highlighting the rising incidents of dog bites in schools, hospitals, and other public institutions. The court has issued strict, time-bound instructions to states, union territories, and the central government to secure educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands, and railway stations from the entry of stray dogs.
In response to the Supreme Court's directives, the NMC has instructed principals, deans, and heads of medical colleges and institutions to implement measures outlined by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava. These measures include designating a nodal officer responsible for maintaining cleanliness, preventing dog entry, and coordinating with local municipal authorities. The details of these nodal officers must be prominently displayed and communicated to the relevant municipal bodies.
Furthermore, institutions are required to identify and secure their premises within two weeks by installing fencing, boundary walls, gates, and other structural or administrative safeguards within eight weeks to prevent stray dogs from entering or inhabiting the premises. The institutions should conduct quarterly inspections to ensure that dog habitats do not exist within or near these premises and any stray dog found inside must be immediately removed, sterilized, vaccinated, and not returned to the same location.
The Supreme Court has also directed that all government and private institutions, including schools, colleges, hostels, hospitals, medical colleges, sports complexes, stadiums, bus stands, ISBTs, and railway stations, must identify and secure their premises. Compliance affidavits must be filed within eight weeks by Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs, NHAI, and the Union of India (MoHFW), covering the securing of the identified institutions.
The Ministry of Education is expected to direct all schools and educational institutions to conduct awareness sessions for students and staff on preventive behavior around animals, first-aid measures in case of bites, and immediate reporting protocols. Stadiums and sports complexes are required to deploy security or groundkeeping personnel to maintain around-the-clock vigilance against stray dogs entering or inhabiting the premises. Railway authorities, state transport corporations, and municipal authorities responsible for bus stands, depots, and interstate bus terminals are mandated to ensure these public transport facilities are secured and maintained to prevent the entry of stray dogs.
The availability of both ARV and RIG is crucial for timely and complete treatment of dog-bite victims. ARV helps the body develop immunity against the rabies virus after exposure, while RIG provides immediate antibodies in severe or high-risk bites, offering protection until the vaccine takes effect. However, a source from the health department noted that rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) is expensive and not readily available in most hospitals except for larger tertiary government hospitals, so procurement is necessary.
