Centre justifies regulating supply of anti-fungal drug

Steps taken to boost production of drug against mucormycosis, Madras High Court told.

The Centre on Thursday told the Madras High Court that the demand for liposomal amphotericin-B (LAmB), a drug used for treating mucormycosis, has exceeded the supply available through domestic production as well as imports and therefore, the government had to regulate the supply to the States to avoid hoarding and inequitable distribution. Appearing before Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, who had initiated suo motu proceedings to monitor COVID-19 related activities, Additional Solicitor General R. Sankaranarayanan said the Centre was working towards increasing the domestic production besides facilitating the increase in imports and early delivery of import orders. In a report submitted through Senior Central Government Standing Counsel K. Srinivasamurthy, the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said the fungal infection mucormycosis had been reported by many States among COVID-19 patients, especially those on steroid therapy and deranged sugar control.