Anti-black fungus injection shortage forces pvt hospitals to shift patients

LUCKNOW: Due to shortage of amphotericin B injections, patients in private hospitals are now looking for options in government medical facilities, where there is adequate stock of the injection for treatment of mucormycosis or black fungus.

“Two patients from our hospital have been shifted to government facilities. Since amphotericin B injections could not be managed and the patients got admitted, we coordinated the shifting post-surgery. We are in touch with the patients, and they are recovering. We have assured all help even after they are discharged from there,” said Dr RK Mishra of the SIPS hospital, one of the private medical institutions in the city where black fungus patients are treated. At least 10 patients have undergone surgery here.

Doctors said it was the patient’s right to get the best treatment available. “We told all our patients that if amphotericin B injection was not available in private hospitals, they may shift to a government hospital. But none have shifted from our hospital till now. Still, we have promised to help in shifting if anyone wants to do so,” said Dr Farookh Ansari, medical director, Chandan hospital.

This hospital has 10 black fungus patients admitted at present.

Both the patients at SIPS who were shifted were male and from Lucknow. One was shifted to King George’s Medical University and the other to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences. “Another patient is a woman who has been operated upon. The attendants said if they would be able to manage admission to a government facility, they would shift the patient and we are again ready to coordinate,” said Dr Mishra.

To note, amphotericin B injection is administered to black fungus patients and at least 10 days of coverage is required. About 4 to 6 vials of the injection are needed per day. The government hospitals and medical colleges have adequate stock of the injection, but private hospitals are reeling under acute shortage..

Over 250 black fungus patients are admitted to government hospitals and at least 20 are undergoing treatment in private hospitals, including SIPS and Chandan hospital. Some black fungus patients are admitted in the OPD of private hospitals post-surgery. As a result, private hospitals are using alternative anti-fungal injections and several patients have recovered. “We have discharged at least 10 black fungus patients after treating them,” said Dr Mishra.