"Black Fungus Prime Concern": Maharashtra Health Minister To PM Modi

Black Fungus: Rajesh Tope made the statement at a meeting held by PM Modi, during which the latter interacted with 17 district collectors of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that mucormycosis or black fungus, which has claimed 90 lives in the state so far, is a matter of prime concern for the state at present, and the state government needs more supply of the medicine used in its treatment. Rajesh Tope made the statement at a meeting held by PM Modi, during which the latter interacted with 17 district collectors of Maharashtra. Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan also attended the meeting. Submitting his demands for the state, Rajesh Tope said that since the requirement for oxygen and Remdesivir-like medicines has now stabilised due to a drop in COVID-19 cases, mucormycosis is a matter of prime concern for Maharashtra now. In his media briefing on Wednesday, Rajesh Tope had said that Maharashtra faces a shortage of Amphotericin-B, a key medicine required to treat mucormycosis patients, and the state needs 1.50 lakh to two lakh vials of that medicine, but has received only 16,000 from the Centre.