TheKarnatakagovernment said that it will cap the treatment cost of mucormycosis in private hospitals across the state. A potentially fatal fungal infection, mucormycosis spreads rapidly from the nose and sinuses to the face, jaw, eyes, and brain, entailing expensive treatment and long hospitalisation. Hundreds of families are shelling out lakhs on anti-fungal drugs, the prices of which have rocketed in recent weeks following a spike in cases.
The cost of treatment, especially in private hospitals, can go up to Rs 3 lakh. Moreover, with the relatives of patients being told to bring the medicines on their own mainly Liposomal Amphotericin-B and Amphotericin-B injections medicine prices have surged, besides leading to blackmarketing and a price surge.