As India reels with the coronavirus, complications like black fungus (mucormycosis) have made things more challenging for the patients and doctors. Maharashtra is no exception to this with patients scrambling to obtain medication required to treat mucormycosis.
An Indian Express report highlights the struggles faced by patients and their kin to find the required medication. One such case comes from the PD Hinduja Hospital where 64-year old Dwarkadas Wadhwa is currently receiving treatment for black fungus. “Whatever injections we could get will be used today, for tomorrow we have nothing,” his daughter Kusum Sachdeva said.
It is said that there are around 1,500 patients in Maharashtra currently suffering from post-COVID mucormycosis, leading to a series of fresh concerns for the authorities in the state. 90 patients have died so far due to mucormycosis in the state.
For some patients and their kin, the severely expensive medication is bringing new challenges. Doctors prescribe liposomal amphotericin B injection as well as a rare antifungal medication to treat black fungus. However, as the IE report points out, procuring these drugs in the required capacity (90 to 120 vials) can cost patients’ families up to Rs 6,000 to 8,000 each.
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“We have spent lakhs already and managed to buy just 30 injections. My father needs 100,” Sachdeva said highlighting the struggles faced during this critical life and death scenario for her father.
Separately, there are families that cannot afford the expensive medication for treating mucormycosis.
“After being infected with Covid, she was diagnosed with mucormycosis. We spent Rs 4 lakh on the injections to treat the infection at a private hospital, but have run out of money now,” said Sabiha, the mother of 29-year old Samiya Mushtaq who is also diagnosed with a kidney ailment.
Much like how the supply of Remdesivir was restricted, the Maharashtra Government has asked all collectors in the state to monitor the supply of amphotericin B while also keeping an eye out for hoarding and black marketing.
Joint Commissioner (Drug) at the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), D R Gahane said that Maharashtra requires up to 3 lakh injections per month, although it could only obtain 8,500 vials over the past week while the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) managed to get 1,000 vials. He further said that the Central Government only set aside 16,500 injections for the state’s quota.
Keeping this in mind, State Health Minister Rajesh Tope has asked the Centre to increase the allocation of this drug while also requesting permission to obtain the drug directly from manufacturers. The state has reportedly ordered 1.9 lakh injections already but is yet to receive them.
According to FDA estimates, Maharashtra has a requirement of at least 10,000 amphotericin B injections per day. BDR Pharmaceuticals, Bharat Serums, Mylan, and Cipla are some of the major producers of this drug. It is said that the unavailability of raw materials, otherwise known as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), is proving to be detrimental in producing the drug in required quantities.
“We have ramped up production since last year, but there has been an unprecedented surge in demand and we are working towards ensuring equitable patient access to the drug across India,” a spokesperson for Cipla said.
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