Free treatment for this disease arranged in Mysuru, Bengaluru, Hubballi, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru and Shivamogga Regional Centres

Mysore/Mysuru: No Hospital must treat Black Fungus patients secretly and even patients must inform the State Government about availing treatment for this disease, said Deputy Chief Minister and COVID-19 Ministerial Task Force Committee Chairman Dr. C.N. Ashwathnarayan.

Speaking to mediapersons after seeking the blessings of Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji here yesterday, the Minister said this disease was appearing in Covid recovered patients and the Government has kept a watch on them. 

Taking treatment for this disease has to be brought to the notice of the Government compulsorily. It will be an offence to treat patients of Black Fungus covertly. At the same time, even patients will be liable for the stern action if they were found taking treatment silently. He said so far, there is no official information regarding death of patients suffering from Black Fungus. However, they have got information about over hundred persons are suffering from this disease. 

To treat the Black Fungus cases across Karnataka, the State Government has identified Regional Centres like Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences in Kalaburagi, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in Hubballi, Kasturba Medical College in Manipal and Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru where free treatment has been arranged besides in Bengaluru. 

The medicine to treat this disease, Liposomal Amphotericin B injection, was not manufactured in India. Now, arrangements were made to manufacture this injection in the country. More quantity of this medicine is likely to be available soon, he said.

At present, the Government of India was importing this medicine and distributing to those States which have recorded these cases. The shortage of this drugs will be addressed soon, he noted.

The Dy.CM ruled out reduction in daily Covid tests and claimed that the number of tests were more than target. However, some reforms have been brought in. While the Government laboratories have one lakh testing capacity daily, private labs can test 75,000 RT-PCR swab collection. As many as 50,000 Rapid Antigen Tests were conducted daily, he said adding that already, 30 lakh RAT kits have been purchased and the Government has decided to buy another one crore RAT kits and RT-PCR test kits.

Replying to a question, the Deputy Chief Minister said there was no restrictions on the purchase of medical equipment and medicines and the Government has given complete freedom to the Health Department.

In the last one year, the Government has created 30,000 oxygenated beds and installed more than 3,000 ventilators. Besides, adequate staff have been appointed and also implemented 7th Pay Commission, he said.

Dr. Ashwathnarayan said after Maharashtra, Karnataka has received the maximum number of Remdesivir injection. This has been supplied free of cost to patients admitted in the Government and Private Hospitals, under the Government quota. As many as 35 lakh to 40 lakh people have received medicines from the Government. Hitherto, they had a practice of storing the medicine in district-level. However, as the demand for the medicines jacked up, they have to make alternative arrangements. Now, the system was in place, he noted.