3 weeks ago
Andhra Pradesh snake-bite victims to get antidote in 108 ambulances
Snake bites can be very dangerous, and sometimes people die from them.
In a place called Andhra Pradesh in India, many people get bitten by snakes.
The government came up with a new idea to help them.
They are putting special snake-bite medicine, called anti-snake venom, inside emergency ambulances.
These ambulances are called 108 ambulances.
When someone is bitten, the ambulance rushes to help them.
A trained medical worker inside can give the medicine, but only after a doctor watching live through a camera says it is okay.
This way, the person gets help quickly, during the important "golden hour," before reaching the hospital.
Already, three people have been saved with this plan.
The government hopes to put the medicine in all of its ambulances soon.
Andhra Pradesh launched a pilot project to keep anti-snake venom (ASV) in 108 ambulances so emergency medical technicians can administer it under remote doctor supervision.
A doctor at the Emergency Response Centre in Mangalagiri monitors each patient live through a dome camera in the ambulance before advising on ASV.
Three snake-bite victims from Kadapa, Nandyal and Kurnool districts have already been saved under the pilot, which followed 3,104 snake-bite emergency calls since June 2025.
The state recorded 4,573 snake-bite cases and 41 deaths in 2024, 4,702 cases and 13 deaths in 2025, and around 3,000 cases and three deaths so far in 2026.
Only EMTs are authorised to administer ASV, and only on the advice of the ERC doctor; the government is considering stocking ASV in all 108 ambulances across the state.
- Who
- The Andhra Pradesh government, health minister Satya Kumar Yadav, the NTR Vaidya Seva Trust, and emergency medical technicians supervised by doctors at the Emergency Response Centre in Mangalagiri.
- What
- A pilot project stocking anti-snake venom in 108 ambulances so EMTs can administer it to snake-bite victims under remote doctor supervision before reaching hospital.
- Where
- Andhra Pradesh, India, coordinated from the Emergency Response Centre in Mangalagiri.
- When
- The pilot follows 3,104 snake-bite emergency calls received since June 2025; the state has also recorded cases and deaths for 2024, 2025 and so far in 2026.
- Why
- To save snake-bite victims by giving them life-saving treatment during the critical 'golden hour' before they reach a hospital.
Key facts
- State
- Andhra Pradesh, India
- Initiative
- Pilot project keeping anti-snake venom (ASV) in 108 ambulances
- Emergency calls since June 2025
- 3,104 snake-bite related calls
- Victims saved under pilot
- 3 (from Kadapa, Nandyal and Kurnool districts)
- Cost per ASV vial
- ₹584.64
- ASV procured so far
- Worth ₹5.28 lakh
- Snake-bite cases and deaths
- 4,573 cases/41 deaths (2024); 4,702 cases/13 deaths (2025); ~3,000 cases/3 deaths (2026 so far)
- Victims shifted to hospitals via ambulance network
- Rose from 34% before June 2025 to 95%
Quotes
Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav
Government minister overseeing health
“The health department had equipped 108 ambulances with ASV so that treatment could begin before victims reach hospital.”
deccanchronicle.com
K.V.N. Chakradhara Babu
Chief executive officer, NTR Vaidya Seva Trust
“Only EMTs were authorised to administer ASV and that they could do so only on the advice of the ERC doctor after the patient’s condition had been assessed remotely.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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