NPPA to monitor supply arrangements for Mucormycosis drug Amphotericin B

This comes after the government took major steps by ramping up the production of the drug to fight against the additional threat apart from COVID.

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has released a statement on 12 May 2021, expressing concern about the sudden increase in demand in some states for Amphotericin B, which is being actively prescribed by physicians to patients suffering from Mucormycosis, a post COVID complication.

In order to fight the fatal fungal infection, the Government of India is therefore engaging with the manufacturers to ramp up the production of the drug. The supply position is expected to improve with extra imports of this drug and an increase in its production domestically.

According to the statement, after reviewing the stock position with manufacturers/importers and the demand pattern for Amphotericin B, the Department of Pharma (DoP) has allocated this drug to the states/UTs on May 11, 2021, based on the expected supply that will be available from May 10 to May 31, 2021.

In this regard, states have been requested to put in place a mechanism for equitable distribution of supplies amongst government and private hospitals and health care agencies. In addition, states have also been requested to publicise in the State the 'Point of Contact' for private and government hospitals to obtain the drug from this allocation. Further, states have been requested that judicious use may be made of the stock that has been already supplied as well as stock that has been allocated.

In addition, it is also directed that the arrangements for supply will be monitored by the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA).

In conclusion, the statement added, "The country is going through a severe wave of pandemic and it has affected various parts of the country. The Government of India is continuously working to augment the supply of essential covid medicines and making them available to the State Governments and UTs through an equitable and transparent manner."