BHOPAL: Two surgical interventions, almost three months of hospitalisation and whopping Rs18 lakh spent from pocket, Bhopal’s first black fungus patient is looking forward to another medical visit later this month.
“I have been injected with 150 liposomal amphotericin. 75-injections after each of the two surgical interventions. Each cost around Rs 7,816. Besides anti-fungal medicines, oral suspension syrup costs Rs 22,000 per bottle,” the patient said, recalling his ordeal to survive through Covid-19 and life threatening infections.
This middle-aged patient is a native of a neighbouring district of Bhopal. The patient’s identity is not being revealed.
At first the person was diagnosed Covid-19 around March. After home quarantine and treatment was deemed as negative for the infection. A few days into recovery, the person’s face started swelling. In April 2021, doctors at AIIMS-Bhopal were quick to identify black fungus and one of the first treatments during the pandemic began.
The patient’s infection was diagnosed much before ‘black fungus’ was associated with post Covid-19 infection progression. At that time there was no regulation on supply of amphotericin B and other antifungal medications. It also meant, there was no government support for the patient for months till discharge in August.
Inhibitions soon subsided after fungal cell membranes in the patient’s body showed signs of recovery and the medical condition improved. “After a month I got discharged from AIIMS-Bhopal. No sooner had the inflammation and swelling returned. Five days later I was back in the hospital,” patient said.
The doctors indicated some fungal infection remained in the upper area of the face. “First 75 injections are not enough. The entire course was repeated after the second surgical clean-up. My relatives sourced the injections from places like Nagpur and Bengaluru. Eight bottles of syrup were prescribed. Each cost Rs 22,000. Except for basic items like syringes and low-cost medical supplies not much was available at AIIMS-Bhopal,” the patient said.
