Rajesh Tope: Mucormycosis patients to be treated for free under Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana

Mucormycosis, a serious but rare fungal infection has been reported in many patients who have recovered from Covid-19. Citizens need to be vigilant about this disease and soon patients will be treated for free under the Maharashtra governments flagship medical insurance scheme, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Monday.

A decision in this regard will be taken soon, informed the state health minister Rajesh Tope. He also said that 2,000 patients were found to be infected with mucormycosis in the state.

Black fungus or mucormycosis is a fungal infection triggered by COVID-19 that requires 14 injections. The cost of these injections is so high that it is beyond the reach of the poor. Therefore, it will be decided to treat this disease through public health scheme, informed Tope. 

8 people have died of this infection in the state so far. We are making special wards for these patients, said Tope. Symptoms of Mucormycosis include headache, fever, pain under the eyes, nasal or sinus congestion and partial loss of vision. The minister said the government will undertake a campaign to spread awareness among people about the fungal infection.

Medicines for this disease i.e. MP-Amphotericin are available everywhere. Due to the increase in demand, the price of this drug has gone up from Rs 2,500 to Rs 6,000. So it's not affordable for everyone. With this in mind, the 14-dose injection will soon be included in the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, Tope said.

Mucormycosis patients will be treated for free under Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. Over 2,000 cases have been reported & 8 people have died of this infection in the state so far. We are making special wards for these patients: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope pic.twitter.com/XnAT9loG5F

— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2021