The Central government is ramping up supplies of Amphotericin B to meet the sudden increase in demand for the medicine which is being prescribed by doctors to treat cases of the the deadly black fungus (mucormycosis) disease that develops as a post Covid complication in patients.
“The Government of India is engaging with the manufacturers to step up production of the drug. The supply position is expected to improve with extra imports of this drug and increase in its production domestically,” according to an official press note issued on Wednesday.
After reviewing the stock position with the manufacturers and importers, and the demand pattern of Amphotericin B the Department of Pharma, has on 11th May, 2021 , allocated this drug amongst the States/UTs based on expected supply that will be available from May 10 to May 31, the press note said.
The deadly infection is commonly seen in patients who have recovered from COVID-19 but have comorbidities such as diabetes, kidney or heart failure or cancer. Dr Manish Munjal, senior ENT surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, said: "We are seeing a rise again in black fungus infections triggered by COVID-19. This deadly infection caused a high mortality last year with many patients suffering from the loss of eyesight and the removal of the nose and the jaw bone."
The Centre has asked the States to put in place a mechanism for equitable distribution of supplies amongst government and private hospitals and health care agencies. States have also been requested to publicise in the State the ‘Point of Contact’ for private and government hospitals to obtain the drug from this allocation. Further, States have been requested that judicious use may be made of the stock that has been already supplied as well as stock that has been allocated. The arrangements for supply will be monitored by National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA).
The country is going through a severe wave of pandemic and it has affected various parts of the country. The Government of India is continuously working to augment the supply of essential Covid medicines and making them available to the State Governments and UTs through an equitable and transparent manner, the press note added.
