Maharashtra: Mucormycosis cases to cross 5,000 mark, state make special preparations

The State Health Guarantee Society estimates that the number of mucormycosis patients in Maharashtra will reach 5,000 in the next few months. Out of which 75% patients can be treated through Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. It is expected to cost Rs 30 crore. Earlier, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope had said that the Mahatma Phule scheme would provide free treatment to patients suffering from the disease.

In this regard, the proposal sent by the State Health Guarantee Society has been approved by the Health Minister, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The disease requires a variety of services such as microbiologist internal medicine specialist, nose-ear-throat specialist, ophthalmologist, surgeon as well as dentist. Therefore, it is necessary to set up a separate system for this disease, said the state health department. The Department of Public Health has made some decisions regarding this. Separate wards and ICUs should be set up for patients with mucormycosis. 

All government and private medical colleges will be allowed to open separate wards and ICUs for patients in affiliated hospitals. With the help of the Department of Medical Education, eligibility criteria will be set for the selection of private hospitals to treat patients, this decision has also been taken by the Public Health Department. In this regard, Dr. Sudhakar Shinde, Chief Executive Officer, State Health Guarantee Society, while talking to Lokmat, said that under this scheme, patients can be admitted to hospitals affiliated to all medical colleges in separate wards or ICUs for treatment. 

Under Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Janaarogya Yojana, the state government can pay Rs 1.5 lakh from insurance cover and Rs 5 lakh from the Prime Minister's Janaarogya Yojana. Antifungal drugs will be provided free of cost to the hospitals covered under this scheme. These drugs will be available at a lower price if purchased in bulk. The scheme covers all types of ration card holders in the state. So it will be possible for patients to get free treatment. 

How much will be the private hospitals charged who are not lited under the MJPJAY? Dr. Shinde also said that a separate order will be issued. Rates are also being controlled to prevent black market of drugs.

The treatment of this disease has been given top priority by the state government. There are around fifteen hundred patients in Maharashtra today. However, the state government is taking all necessary measures of the number of patients increase in the near future. There will be separate ward and ICU. Instructions have also been given to provide free treatment to the patients under the life insurance scheme.