Covid-19 testing underway at the Gateway of India
MUMBAI: With a spurt in mucormycosis or the deadly ‘black fungus’ among patients recovering from Covid, public health minister Rajesh Tope said it will be treated for free under the state’s medical insurance scheme, and offered hope about capping the price of the expensive antifungal medicines.
There are around 1,000-odd hospitals under the Mahatma Phule Jan Aarogya Yojana. “The main antifungal drug, Amphotericin B, is expensive, and it may be difficult for people to bear the cost. We will look at the prices and take a decision on capping it,” he said. A single vial of Amphotericin B can cost between Rs 5000 and Rs 8000, and the medicines have to be taken for 4-12 weeks.