INNOVATIONS in pharmacy

Antifungal Drugs Shortage in India amidst Looming Increase in Invasive Fungal Infections among COVID-19 Patients: An Impending Crisis

Behram Khan Ghazi

Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, Pakistan; Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Usman Zahid

Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, Pakistan; Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Muhammad Abdullah Usman

Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

Zohra Kazmi

Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan

Reem Hunain

Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India

Mehr Muhammad Adeel Riaz

Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Osman Kamal Osman Elmahi

Faculty of Medicine, Ibn Sina University, Khartoum, Sudan

Mohammad Yasir Essar

Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan

Mohammad Mehedi Hasan

Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, Bangladesh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v13i2.4480

Keywords: Antifungal drugs, shortage, India, mucormycosis, Government policy

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Abstract

The widespread prevalence of fungal infections in the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic could be owed to ubiquitous and injudicious use of steroids and immunosuppressive nature of the virus. However, these fungal infections also meant increased use of antifungal drugs, hence endangering their supply. Amphotericin B is the first line drug for mucormycosis which was declared as an epidemic in India during the second wave. With the increasing demand of the drug, came challenges to manufacture and supply large quantities of the drug and exploitation by creating a black market and spread of false information and imprudent usage. It is of utmost importance to be prepared with adequate supply all over the nation and implementing safety regulations in manufacturing and supply of large quantities of drugs during the demanding times and make them accessible at a reasonable rate.