Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 4: In the past, the shortage of Remdesivir medicine used to treat coronavirus infection was felt in the coastal districts of Karnataka. Now, the medicine, amphotericin, used for black fungus treatment, is in short supply.

Black fungus infection has been identified among 46 people in the twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. The amphotericin medicine is not being supplied regularly in required quantities to the district hospital here. Every patient needs five to six vials of this medicine for treatment every day. Health department sources say that because of the shortfall, currently only three vials of the medicine are being administered per day to the black fungus patients.

Private hospitals also treat such patients. There is demand for this medicine from these hospitals too. For their requirement of the medicine, the private hospitals also have to register themselves in the KPME portal. The state government supplies the medicine directly to these hospitals but the quantity of supply is not adequate.

Dakshina Kannada district has 35 active black fungus cases, with four deaths. In Udupi, there are 11 active cases. Compared to the state, this disease has been spreading faster in Dakshina Kannada district. On Monday alone, ten new patients were diagnosed. In the 35 active cases in the district, eight are from Dakshina Kannada while the 27 are from other districts. Among the six dead, two are from Dakshina Kannada and four are from other districts.

In designated Covid hospital, free treatment is provided for black fungus. Wenlock district hospital Mangaluru has been designated as the regional centre for the purpose. Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, Kota Srinivas Poojary, said that there is shortage of the medicine and the state government will be pressurized to keep up regular supply of the medicine in the coming days.