The Bohol Provincial Health Office announced plans to expand access to potentially life-saving snake antivenom across district hospitals, addressing growing fears over poisonous snake bites in the island province.
Dr.Em-EmUy, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), said Wednesday the agency is awaiting guidance from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine on the practicality of the procurement plan.
Currently, snake antivenom is only available at two major medical facilities in Bohol: the Gov. CelestinoGallares Memorial Medical Center in Tagbilaran City and the Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Medical Center in Ubay, approximately 124 kilometers apart.
“Having antivenom available at all district hospitals would eliminate the need for emergency transport to Tagbilaran or Ubay,” Uy said. “This could significantly reduce treatment delays for snake bite victims.”
While the plan wasn’t included in the 2025 provincial budget, officials can pass a supplemental budget to fund the purchase, according to Uy.
The quantity of antivenom to be procured has not yet been determined.
The World Health Organization estimates that about 66,000 people experience snakebites annually in the Philippines, with the majority occurring in rural areas where access to antivenom is limited.
Common venomous snakes in Bohol include the Philippine cobra (Najaphilippinensis) and the Malayan pit viper (Calloselasmarhodostoma).
Snake antivenom typically costs between P15,000 to P25,000 Philippine pesos per vial, and some patients require multiple vials for treatment.
The medication has a limited shelf life and must be stored under specific temperature conditions.