Get black fungus medicine from wherever, act fast before we lose lives: HC to Centre

The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the Union government to take steps to get the medicine Amphotericin B, used for treating black fungus which is primarily affecting COVID-19 recovered people, from wherever it is available in the world, "before more precious lives are lost". The court said the Union government should inform it about steps taken to import medicine, the shortfall of which was coming in the way of treatment of Mucormycosis (black fungus) which has been on rise in the national capital and elsewhere in the country.

"You have to get the medicine from wherever in the world. You have to take steps right now. Wherever it is available in the world, get it," said a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh which was assured by the Union government that it has already started taking steps to import the medicine. The court noted that the domestic production of the medicine is far less than what is required in India and the Union government has informed that the production capacity of some of the producers has been doubled now.

It, however, said, "Looking at the shortfall in the supply, we are afraid that mere doubling of production will not suffice. It is not clear when the augmented production will come in actual production." The bench said, "The Union government may place on record the steps taken to import the medicine to augment the supplies within the country."