More states, UTS see cases of black fungus

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday said license has been given to five more manufactures for production of Amphotericin-b, used in the treatment of black fungus, as it looks to ramps up its fight against the rare lifethreatening disease whose cases have significantly increased across the country.

The Union health ministry said these pharma companies will start producing 111,000 vials of Amphotericin-b per month from July.

Efforts are being made to supplement the domestic availability of the anti-fungal drug through import, the ministry said, adding that 363,000 vials of Amphotericin-b will be imported in May, resulting in the total availability of 526,752 vials (inclusive of the domestic production) in the country.

It said 315,000 vials will be imported in June and along with the domestic supply, the countrywide availability of Amphotericin-b will be enhanced to 570,114 vials in June.

Several states and Union territories (UTS) have reported an increasing number of patients suffering from Covid-19 complications in the recent days in the form of mucormycosis, popu