Even as the coronavirus cases are declining in Maharashtra, the state is now fighting against mucormycosis, the fungal infection. For this, the Maharashtra government had asked all collectors to control the supply of amphotericin B to hospitals to prevent black marketing and hoarding.
Similarly, days after the state government’s instructions, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set up a committee, under the chairmanship of Dr. Hemant Deshmukh, to be the only source of distribution of amphotericin B injections to the private and government hospitals.
According to reports, there are nearly 400 patients diagnosed with mucormycosis, also known as Black Fungus, in Mumbai. The civic body had earlier said that is keeping a track and record of the patients infected with the fungal infection.
Also Read: Maharashtra has the highest number of Mucormycosis cases
The number of patients that have mucormycosis infections is increasing and the demand for amphotericin B injections has also risen. However, due to the unavailability of injections, the municipality has entrusted the responsibility of its distribution to this committee to prevent black marketing and hoarding.
The committee will ensure an adequate supply of injections for the patients and a nodal officer has been appointed for the supervision of distribution.
Meanwhile, doctors and experts have suggested that not every mucormycosis patient needs to be given liposomal ampoteresin B.
Moreover, the Maharashtra government had last month asked Haffkine (a state-run pharma firm based in Mumbai) to float a tender for one lakh injections of the drug.
Recently, in an address to the citizens, the Maharashtra CM had mentioned that the state has more than 3,000 cases of rare fungal infection.
Also Read: Mucormycosis: 131 hospitals to provide free treatment for fungal infection
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