PUNE: The state government has scrapped the global tender for procuring the key anti-mucormycosis drug amphotericin B in bulk for want of a bidder.
The Maharashtra government had wanted to import over 60,000 vials of the drug through the tendering process.
“The global tendering process did not attract a single bidder, hence it had to be scrapped.
We are currently purchasing the drug on an ad-hoc basis as per the availability from domestic and foreign manufacturers,” said Sudhakar Shinde, chief executive officer, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Aarogya Yojana (MPJAY), a state-sponsored health scheme.
The Maharashtra government on Thursday informed the Bombay High Court that of the 600 deaths due to mucormycosis till June 10, 82 patients had died in the past 36 hours due to shortage of amphotericin B injection.
Observing that the high number of deaths was disturbing, the court asked the Centre to increase the allocation to Maharashtra and import medicines as domestic production was insufficient.
‘The deaths need to be brought down.
Altogether 82 patients have died within 36 hours.
This is a disturbing figure and we have to save lives.
Of the 23,254 mucormycosis cases in India, 25% are in Maharashtra, while the allocation of drugs is nearly 20%.
This is inadequate and we do not want deaths for want of medicines,” the bench observed.
Covid-associated mucormycosis, primarily seen among many recovering from Covid treatment, needs extensive medical and surgical management.
A patient could need multiple surgeries involving ENT, neurosurgery, ophthalmology.
It usually starts from sinuses and can spread to the surrounding areas.
The Maharashtra government capped the cost of 28 surgeries, usually needed for treatment of mucormycosis, last week to bring the treatment cost within the reach of patients.
“Amphotericin B plays a pivotal road in arresting the spread of mucormycosis.
Surgeries are only helpful in clearing the tissues, which are already damaged,” said ENT surgeon Samir Joshi attached to the state-run B J Medical College and Sassoon hospital.