LUCKNOW: Acute shortage of life-saving drug, Amphotericin B, used to treat black fungus infection or mucormycosis, was being reported only from private hospitals so far but a few patients are now complaining of short supply at the King George’s Medical University (KGMU).
After failing to find the drug in open market, family members of a patient have posted an appeal on social media requesting for 40 doses of the drug.
“My father could not get the drug because KGMU is giving it first to those in ICU.
Critical patients need the drug more but mucormycosis is a deadly disease with 50% mortality rate, hence, every patient should get it.
However, we have been asked to get it from the market due to shortage at KGMU,” said the patient’s daughter.
The drug vanished from the market after a sudden rise in mucormycosis cases last month, leaving patients at private hospitals in the lurch.
State health department had made the provision to sell the drug through the Indian Red Cross Society-Lucknow (IRCS-L) to patients at private health facilities.
Adequate supply was maintained for patients at three government-aided institutes – KGMU, RMLIMS and SGPGIMS – where the drug is given free of cost.
Amphotericin B is the main drug used to check the spread of black fungus infection.
The cost of the drug ranges from Rs 1,000-7,000 depending on the brand and the mode of supply.
A patient requires six doses daily for at least three days.
The treatment can be extended to weeks as per the condition of the patient.
The requirement of the drug is high in KGMU because it has nearly 80% (291) of the total patients from across the state undergoing treatment at Lucknow hospitals.
KGMU officers acknowledge the shortfall in supply against the demand.
“There is a shortage of the drug.
At present, the supply is less than what is required due to the huge caseload.
However, the university and government is working hard to bridge the gap,” said KGMU spokesperson Dr Sudhir Singh.
The shortage is turning out to be a big ordeal for patients and their families.
Son of another patient from Sravasti said, “Doctors say that my father’s eye will have to be removed due to the infection.
However, to check the spread of infection further, he requires the drug for at least 14 days, but it is not available in KGMU.
With the help of friends, we managed to get an alternate drug, which is not as effective as the original one.” 3 more succumb, 11 new cases reportedThree more patients admitted to KGMU with black fungus infection succumbed to the disease on Saturday.
The patients belonged to Barabanki, Pilibhit and Sultanpur.
Besides, 11 new cases were reported, which took the number under treatment at the university to 291.
Doctors performed surgeries to remove infected tissues on 16 patients.
Six were discharged after recovery.