In the wake of acute shortage of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV), Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday approved the Health Department's proposal for its emergency procurement."The Delhi Cabinet, in its meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approved the Health Department's proposal for emergency procurement of ARV, and also granted its ex-post facto approval for the already purchased ARV by the Department," stated a press release.With this order, the Cabinet approved the procurement of 80,000 vials of the ARV on a single bid basis and granted its ex-post facto approval for the already procured 40,000 vials.The ARV is an essential life-saving vaccine, administered to dog bite cases to prevent the deadly rabies infection."Currently, there is an acute shortage of this vaccine in Delhi hospitals, since the Central Procurement Agency could not procure due to the withdrawal of rate contract by the bidder, poor availability of ARV in the open market, and single bid .
