The High Court of Andhra Pradesh sought the Union Government’s response with regards to its allocation of Liposomal Amphotericin B, the essential drug required for treatment of patients suffering from Mucormycosis, to different states based on the patient load.
A division bench comprising of Justice K Vijayalakshmi and Justice D Ramesh, requested the state government to start awareness campaigns highlighting the cause, effect and preventive measures to tackle Mucormycosis or the Black Fungus disease.
The bench stated, “We are conscious of the fact that there is acute shortage of the subject drug to treat black fungus and that the Union of India is making all efforts to procure the same to meet the requirement. As the memo filed by the Central Government is not clear with regard to the allocation of the subject drug to different States basing on the number of patients, Union of India is directed to file a status report in this regard by the next date of hearing.”
At the outset the court observed, “The drug which is allocated by the Union of India is not sufficient to treat the patients of black fungus.”
The development came after ASG N Harinath had filed a memo on behalf of the Centre stating that several States are requesting for allotment of higher quantities of the said drug and that in view of this, the allocation is made by the Centre. It was also stated that around 13830 injections have been allocated to the State of Andhra Pradesh till May 31. It was further stated that additional 7770 vials have been allocated to the State on 5th June.
During the course of hearing, it was also informed that there are many other diseases and side effects of covid apart from black, white and yellow fungus. It was also stated that one such disease is "multi system inflammatory syndrome" in children, also called as 'MIS-N' in Neonatal which is causing impairment of heart, lungs and kidneys.
Further, the Court also went on to observe that the pandemic is going to extend for some more time, the State has to be fully equipped with the required man-power to handle the situation. In view of this, the Court directed the State to file a memo with regard to steps taken by it with regard to recruitment of paramedical staff.
