No neurosurgeon in Bathinda AIIMS for black fungus patients

BATHINDA: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, is struggling to treat black fungus patients in the absence of a neurosurgeon.

On May 24, the central institute constituted a multidisciplinary mucor task force to treat patients diagnosed with the fungal infection.

AIIMS executive director Dr DK Singh on Tuesday said four mucormycosis patients had been operated upon in the last one week, but it was a challenging task to treat patients fully without an expert from the neurology department.

Singh said fungus infection in Covid-9 patients was a critical medical condition that needed swift treatment by a panel of experts. “While limited resources jeopardise complete treatment, black fungus complexities affect the quality of their lives as it affects various organs,” he added.

“Scarcity of drugs is another serious challenge in treating patients for a disease that was a rarity in India before the pandemic outbreak. Central and state authorities have been apprised about the drug shortage and efforts are being made to streamline it,” he added.

“I made best efforts, but no neurosurgeon is ready to join AIIMS on ad hoc basis. Since the institute is at a developing stage, we have limited facilities for faculties. Keeping in view of the grim situation of black fungus, I have decided to hold interviews later this month to appoint neurosurgeons,” said AIIMS head.

Institute authorities say the fourth mucormycosis surgery was held on Tuesday afternoon and the patients are under constant medical observation. They all are in post-Covid stage treatment.