Post Covid-19 Complication: Union Government Takes Steps To Ramp Up Availability Of Amphotericin B To Fight Mucormycosis

A sudden increase in demand has been observed in some states for Amphotericin B which is being actively prescribed by the physicians to patients suffering from Mucormycosis, a rare but dangerous fungal infection and a post Covid-19 complication.

Mucormycosis affects sinuses, brain, lungs and can be life-threatening in diabetic or severely immunocompromised individuals, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.

The Government of India has therefore engaged multiple manufacturers to ramp up production of the drug. The supply position is expected to improve with extra imports of this drug and increase in its production domestically.

After reviewing the stock position with the manufacturers, importers and taking into account the demand pattern of Amphotericin B, the Department of Pharma on 11 May has allocated this drug amongst the States based on expected supply.

“States have been requested to put in place a mechanism for equitable distribution of supplies amongst government and private hospitals,” the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said in a statement.

The ministry also requested the states to publicize the ‘Point of Contact’ for private and government hospitals to obtain the drug from this allocation.

Further, States have been requested that judicious use may be made of the stock that has been already supplied as well as stock that has been allocated. The arrangements for supply will be monitored by the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA).

“The country is going through a severe wave of pandemic and it has affected various parts of the country. The Government of India is continuously working to augment the supply of essential covid medicines and making them available to the State Governments and Union Territories through an equitable and transparent manner,” the ministry said.