Union Minister says supplied enough mucormycosis drug to States, UTs

Bengaluru: Responding to the reports of shortage of drug to treat mucormycosis fungus infection, also known as black fungus, Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said that the Centre ensured the delivery of enough Amphotericin-B drugs to all states and the Union Territories.

An additional 29,250 vials of Amphotericin-B, a drug used to cure mucormycosis, have been supplied to all the states and Union Territories and there would be no short supply, Gowda said.

In a series of tweets, the minister asserted that there will be no shortage of drugs to treat 'black fungus' (mucormycosis) as 29,250 vials were allocated, based on the number of patients under treatment which is 11,717 across the country.

The announcement comes after several instances of hoarding and black-marketing of the Ampho-B drug was being reported in several states and the Delhi High Court had asked the central government to explain the reasons for the shortage.

Earlier, 19,420 vials of Amphotericin-B were allocated on May 24 and 23,680 vials of the drug were supplied across the country on May 21.

According to the Minister, additional 1,220 vials of Amphotericin-B have been allocated for 481 patients who are under treatment for black fungus in Karnataka.

Prior to it, 1,030 vials of the drug were already allocated to Karnataka on May 24 and 1,270 vials on May 21.

The data shared by the Minister shows that Gujarat has 2,859 patients, which is the maximum in the country, followed by 2,770 in Maharashtra, 768 in Andhra Pradesh, 752 in Madhya Pradesh, 744 in Telangana, and 701 in Uttar Pradesh.

In order to ramp up the production of the drug, the central government has given license to produce it to five more manufacturers apart from the five existing ones.

At present, Bharat Serums and Vaccines, BDR Pharmaceuticals, Sun Pharma, Cipla and Life Care Innovations produce Amphotericin B in India. Mylan imports the anti-fungal drug.

Health experts have expressed concern over the growing cases of mucormycosis, which was a very rare phenomenon previously and now appearing as a post-Covid complication.