Take immediate action: Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi over black fungus drug shortage

In a letter, the chief of the country's primary opposition party asked the Prime Minister to take an "immediate action" to ensure the availability of the drug Liposomal Amphotericin-B.

She wrote, "I understand that Liposomal Amphotericin-B is absolutely essential for treatment of Mucormycosis. However there are reports of its acute scarcity in (the) market. I would request you to kindly take immediate action in this matter."

The Union Health Ministry on Friday said licenses have been given to five more manufacturers to produce Amphotericin-B and 1,11,000 vials of the drug will be produced per month from July.

The government on Thursday directed all states to declare mucormycosis or "black fungus" an epidemic in a letter by making it notifiable under "Epidemic Diseases Act".

Once listed under the act, all confirmed or suspected cases of black fungus, a condition seen in COVID-19 patients or those who have recovered from it, have to be reported to the health ministry.

The symptoms of the disease include blackening or discolouration over the nose, double or blurred vision, chest pain, difficulties in breathing and coughing blood. Experts have said people with diabetes are more susceptible to contract the infection.

Several states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan have already declared Black Fungus as a notified disease under the Epidemic Act.