Expressing concerns over rise in black fungus or Mucormycosis cases in the country, Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Center over lack of black fungus medicine and asking about its strategy to deal with rising cases of mucormycosis or black fungus.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has once again opened a front against the Modi government. Targeting the Modi government through Twitter, the Congress leader asked the government what it is doing to address the shortage of drugs used to treat patients of black fungus. Gandhi posed these questions on his Twitter account.
“Central Government should clarify about the Black fungus epidemic –
1. What is being done for Amphotericin B drug shortage? 2. What is the procedure for getting this medicine to the patient? 3. Instead of giving treatment, why is the public getting hassled by formalities by the government?”
Rising cases of Black Fungus in the Country
The fungal infection, seen mostly in Covid-19 patients across the country, has been rising significantly, resulting in a rise in the death toll. Karnataka has reported 1,250 cases of mucormycosis and 39 related deaths so far. In Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city, 39 people died due to the infection. On Friday, two succumbed to mucormycosis in Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut reported 147 black fungus cases so far.
Rushing to control the infection in patients, several states are faced with a shortage of injections (Liposomal Amphotericin-B and Posaconazole) needed in the treatment of black fungus patients.
Earlier Also Rahul Gandhi warns the Government over the rising Black Fungus cases in the country, blamed the “inefficiency” of the PM Narendra Modi government for the “epidemic of black fungus along with the Covid pandemic” in the country.
In his tweet on 22nd May he wrote that due to the misrule of the Modi system, only Corona in India as well Black fungus Is epidemic. Not only is there a shortage of vaccines, there is also a huge shortage of medicines for this new epidemic. He said that in order to cope with this, the PM must announce the clapping of the thali. Let us tell you that the Central Government has instructed the State Governments to include Black Fungus in the diseases to be notified under the epidemic law and all the cases should be reported.
Earlier Congress president Sonia Gandhi also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting to ensure the assured supply of essential medicines for the treatment of mucormycosis (black fungus) and to cover the disease in Ayushman Bharat and other health insurance plans.
This Black Fungus along with coronavirus is also becoming a new problem for the country. Till now it has been reported to spread in many states. These include Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The fungal disease is commonly being observed in patients who were given steroids for a long time; those who have been hospitalised for a long time, were on oxygen support or ventilator, faced poor hospital hygiene or those who have been taking medication for other illnesses such as diabetes. If not treated on time, the infection can turn fatal.
Allocation of Injection for Black Fungus to the states
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers D.V Sadananda Gowda on Monday had announced that an additional 30,100 vials of Amphotericin B have been allocated to all the States/UTs and Central Institutions.
The injection is used for treatment of Mucormycosis, a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes that has been developing in Covid-19 patients.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, India received a consignment of 200,000 AmBisome (Amphotericin B injection), informed Ambassador of India to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company Celon Laboratories on Monday announced the launch of Amphotericin B Emulsion, an alternative drug for the treatment of mucormycosis, commonly known as black fungus infection. In a press release issued here, the company said it will manufacture enough emulsion to treat 6,000 patients per month. Due to a sharp spike in number of mucormycosis cases among the Covid- infected persons in the country, the demand for Liposomal Amphotericin B is increased drastically
