NAROWAL, Nov 8: The district headquarter hospital is without anti-rabies vaccine for the last one year. The dog bite victims have to purchase the vaccine from market which is quite expensive.

DHQ hospital medical superintendent Dr Zulfiqar told this correspondent that the hospital had not purchased the vaccine last year.

He said the hospital referred the victims to the office of district officer (health) for treatment, therefore, they never felt any need of the vaccine.

Ironically, the vaccination centre at the DO Office, when contacted, was also without vaccine for at least two months.

The centre incharge said they got the vaccine from Islamabad. However, they had never been supplied the required quantity of the vaccine, he added.

He said vaccine available in the market was very costly. It cost Rs700 to Rs900 per injection and a patient needed at least three injections.