Black fungus treatment: Hospitals face shortage of drug

At present, there are 2,462 patients with mucormycosis across the State, but only 5,100 vials of the drug are available; a patient needs at least five vials every day

Rakesh Kakol, an engineer with Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., has been running pillar to post for over a week desperately trying to source Liposomal Amphotericin B for his colleague who is suffering from mucormycosis. But so far, he has not been able to get his hands on the potentially life-saving drug. “Even Bowring Hospital, where my friend is admitted, doesn’t have stock of Liposomal Amphotericin B,” he said. The shortage of the drug is not limited to Bengaluru alone. Rangareddy from Raichur whose brother Anjaneya, 37, a lineman by profession, is admitted to a government hospital in the district, said, “The drug supply is very sporadic, it comes to our district once every four or five days. The treatment has been prolonged and my brother’s condition is worsening because of lack of medication,” he said. With the drug not available in other districts as well, families are coming to Bengaluru in the hope that the situation will be better in the State capital.