Bengaluru: About 70% or 2,472 of 3,562 patients who signed Musormycosis in Karnataka were still under treatment, data was submitted in Rajya Sabha by the Ministry of Health Union.
Only 571 patients had recovered, while 310 had died.
Throughout the country, 20,277 of a total of 45,374 people who contracted fungal infections were still hospitalized.
Maharashtra reported most cases at 9,348, followed by Gujarat (6,731), Tamil Nadu (4,072), Karnataka and Rajasthan (3,450).
With only 800 cases that are currently under treatment, the recovery rate of 68% Gujarat is far before Karnataka 16%.
Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College Hospital in Bengaluru – One of the largest public hospitals appointed to treat diseases – have seen 499 mucormycosis cases so far.
From them, 252 patients had undergone surgery and 57 had died.
“At present we have 81 active cases,” said Dr.
Manoj Kumar HV, Dean and Director, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College & Research Institute, who runs a Bowring Hospital.
He said the number of new cases had declined.
Large costs: While the antifungal drug liposome amphotericin b is easily available compared to May when there are acute shortages, the cost of each bottle – Rs 6,900 to Rs 7,200 – is a large burden for patients in private hospitals.
This is the main drug for treating infections.
Most patients need 5-8 doses per day for a minimum of 10-14 days.
For example, Afroz Begum, 57, from Attibele, is being treated for mukormycosis in a private hospital in Bengaluru.
Moqthiar Ahmed, Grocerson, said the cost of the drug was massively pushing maintenance costs.
The family has promised all the gold ornaments they have and regulate funds through all possible sources to ensure the right treatment.
“I spent the RS 3.5 Lakh for covid care in a private hospital and doubled the amount was spent in another private hospital,” Ahmed said.
“For mukormycosis treatment, we have spent almost 6.5 lakh today.
This, more than RS 3.5 Lakh has been spent to get Amphoterisin B alone.” Why isn’t it restricted? Ahmed is one of many who wonder why the government has not limited the price of an essential medicine with a more reasonable amount.
The family has a bpl card, but has helped a little because the fungal infection has not been considered for the treatment under the Arogya Kar Nataka-Ayushman Bharat, a health scheme of Karnataka.
Sabeel Nazir, one of the founders of the Naudah Foundation in Bengaluru, who has helped the treatment of around 15 mucormycosis patients, said the drug was available for Rs 2,000 in January when the foundation had helped patients in need.
“How can the government give drug prices to increase three times in just four months?” He asked.
Toi has a copy of the receipt from a private pharmacy in Bengaluru, which shows drugs such as Tambon 50 and Amphotericin Liposome B for sale at RS 2,000 per dose on January 4, 2021.
BT Khanapure, state drug controller, said the price was controlled by.
Authority for determining national pharmaceutical prices.
“For the purpose of research, drugs are sold at a lower cost.
There are currently several companies that produce the same medicine and have no shortages,” he said, refusing to comment on price problems.