A NPP MP has proposed that in the event of a  dog bite caused by non-vaccinated domesticated pet dog,  the owner of the pet should be called to pay for the treatment expenses incurred by the state run hospital.

Matale District MP, Dinesh Hemantha made the proposal at the Matale District Co-ordinating Committee.

He made the proposal when the issue of the increase of the dog bites in the area was taken up.

The Malate District Hospital has recorded a gradual increase of patients who obtain treatment for dog bites. Hospital Director Dr Susantha Fernando said.

The doctor revealed that most of the dog bites recorded had taken place within households where the pet dogs had bitten their own owners.

The hospital director raised the matter of gradual increase of the number of dog bites During the District coordinating committee meeting held recently.

He explained that around 50 patients arrive at the hospital with dog bite wounds on a daily basis and out of them 85 percent were bitten by their own pet dogs.  It was revealed that 80 percent of dogs which are kept as pets have not given anti –Rabies shots via a patient survey.

The Hospital director pointed out that the government has to bear a huge expenditure over anti rabies vaccines for persons who get injured due to dog bites.

He explained that during the year 2022 the hospital recorded 50,000 persons injured due to dog bites, while during year 2023 and 2024 the number of patients increased to 55,000 and 6200 respectively.

Matale District MP, Dinesh Hemantha responding to the hospital director said that if a non –vaccinated dog had bitten its owner, the hospital should charge them for medical expenses.

He lamented that it is shame that people fail to vaccine their dogs when the government provide free vaccines. He added that if the pet dogs are properly vaccine the expenditure on treatment too would reduce.

 By Mahesh Keerthiratne