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New Delhi, 4th April 2025 — In a significant step toward combating rabies and snakebite-related deaths, the Union Health Ministry has recently launched “ZooWIN”, a digital platform designed to track the real-time availability of anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) and anti-snake venom (ASV) across India.
Developed by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ZooWIN aims to centralise stock monitoring, enhance coordination among healthcare providers, and ensure timely access to life-saving treatments.
Pilot Phase and Helpline Service
The platform is being piloted in five regions—Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh. A one-day training session for state health officials was held on March 28 in New Delhi, with further training planned at state and district levels.
Additionally, a dedicated helpline (15400) launched last year in these pilot states continues to provide guidance on rabies and snakebite treatment.
India’s Snakebite and Rabies Crisis
According to the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE), India reports an estimated 30-40 lakh snake bites annually, leading to nearly 50,000 deaths—half of the global snakebite mortality. Rabies remains a major public health concern, exacerbated by low vaccination coverage among dogs and limited access to post-exposure prophylaxis.
Key Features of ZooWIN
ZooWIN offers several key features aimed at improving access to life-saving treatments. It enables real-time stock monitoring, ensuring the availability of anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) and anti-snake venom (ASV) at healthcare centres.
The platform enhances public accessibility by helping individuals locate the nearest health facility with vaccine stocks, particularly benefiting those in urgent need.
Additionally, ZooWIN facilitates treatment follow-ups, ensuring patients adhere to the complete rabies post-exposure prophylaxis regimen. A major focus of the platform is rural and underserved outreach, improving vaccine distribution in remote areas where access to essential healthcare is often limited.
‘One Health’ Approach
ZooWIN aligns with India’s One Health vision and broader government initiatives to control rabies and snakebite envenoming. By improving stock management and accessibility, authorities expect a significant reduction in fatalities and disabilities caused by these preventable conditions.
With full implementation planned nationwide, the government hopes ZooWIN will replicate the success of Co-WIN (for COVID-19 vaccines) and U-WIN (for universal immunisation), further strengthening India’s public health infrastructure.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by TMB Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The Medical Bulletin
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