Drug shortage hits black fungus treatment in state
Doctors said fungus resurfacing among patients after surgery due to scarcity of injections of liposomal amphotericin B
The cases of mucormycosis or black fungus are resurfacing among patients even after surgery due to shortage of a drug in Rajasthan, doctors said.
Amid the rising cases of black fungus, the state is facing an acute shortage of drug liposomal amphotericin B, which is used in treatment of the disease.
In Rajasthan, around 800 cases of mucormycosis have been reported, a majority of which are being treated in hospitals of Jaipur and Jodhpur districts.
At SMS hospital in Jaipur, which has a separate ward and OPD for the disease, around 180 patients of mucormycosis have been admitted and over 113 surgeries have been conducted to remove the fungus. Till date, five patients have been discharged, while four died. “Besides the increase in cases of black fungus, what is more worrisome is its reoccurrence after the surgery because of the shortage of liposomal amphotericin B injections, used in the treatment. Around 2-3 cases have come up where the fungus has resurfaced as required drug isn’t available,” said a senior doctor of the hospital.
He said, “At present, the requirement is 1,000 vials of the injection per day at the SMS hospital, but we are not receiving even half of it. Today, 300 vials were received and on Wednesday 110. A patient per day needs around six injections, but we aren’t able to provide the same. Due to the shortage, we are giving preference to patients who have undergone the surgery,” he said.
Such cases have been reported from private hospitals also. “In around half-a-dozen cases, the fungus has resurfaced after surgery due to lack of medicine after 4-5 days,” said Dr Satish Jain, a senior doctor at Jain ENT hospital.
He said a patient affected with the fungus needs minimum 6-7 injections per day from the starting of the treatment, which may be extended to a month if the fungus has reached the brain. “There is an acute shortage of medicine, if 500 injections are demanded, only 100 are provided. The government is trying its best to resolve, but the shortage is there,” said Jain.
A health department official said the government has been urging the centre to increase the allocation of medicine keeping in mind the number of patients.
The state is providing free treatment of black fungus. It has been notified as epidemic under the Rajasthan Epidemic Act 2020. Teams of medical and health departments are being sent for door-to-door survey in the affected areas by providing necessary training.
At present, the requirement is 1,000 vials of the injection per day at the SMS hospital, but we are not receiving even half of it...a patient per day needs around six injections, but we aren’t able to provide the same
JAIPUR: