Ghaziabad: Although amphotericin B injections meant for treating black fungus (mucormycosis) are now available at the chief medical officer’s office, patients are not getting the required number of doses because of supply shortage.
Currently, there is a daily requirement of 125-150 vials, but about 60 vials of the drug are being provided to the district every day.
Given the situation, the chief medical officer’s (CMO’s) office has decided to give two vials to each patient, irrespective of the actual requirement, so that everyone gets the injection.
The drug is being supplied from the CMO’s office from Thursday and one has to pay Rs 6,000 for a vial.
But residents said they have not been getting the required number of doses.
Amrita Pundhir (51), who is at Max Hospital in Vaishali since May 27, needs six vials of amphotericin B daily.
Her husband Anil said: “I am willing to pay the money.
But the doses being provided are not enough,” he said According to sources, the problem lies with the daily health department report that is being sent to the government.
So far, the district has reported 88 black fungus cases.
While 16 people are at six private hospitals, 10 deaths have been recorded.
Other patients are being treated at OPDs.
“The daily supply is based on the number of patients admitted to hospitals.
Those seeking treatment at OPDs are not being considered.
The health department report has to provide the details of OPD patients as well so that the district gets adequate supply.
Because of this gap, people are not getting enough doses,” an official said.
At the CMO office, attendants of about 20 patients, each requiring four-six amphotericin B doses per day, submitted their applications on Friday.
They waited for three-four hours before being told adequate doses are not available.
A government vehicle is sent to Meerut daily to get the injections.
By the time it returns , it is almost 4 pm.
Asked about the shortage, chief medical officer Dr NK Gupta said: “A list of patients has been sent to the government.
We have also requested officials to increase the daily supply.
Hopefully, we will get more injections soon.” Dr Ajay Kumar Gupta, principal consultant and head of department, internal medicine, Max Hospital, Vaishali, said: “For a patient, the chance of survival is reduced to half if the infection spreads to the brain.
Treatment can go on for three weeks to three months.”