[Black Fungus] Demand-supply gap of Amphotericin B more than 1/3rd, can't work at this pace: Delhi High Court tells Centre

The Delhi High Court on Monday stated that present production and supply of Amphotericin B, as well as their projections, appear to fall short of the actual demand of the drug being used to treat mucormycosis or black fungus. (Rakesh Malhotra vs GNCTD).Stating that the demand-supply gap was too wide, a Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh remarked, "Math is not panning out.. it can't work at this pace. Gap is more than 1/3rd.".The Court's response came after counsel for Central government informed the Court that all steps were being taken to augment the supply of the drug in the coming weeks. .Standing Counsel Kiritiman Singh told the Court that the expected supply of the drug for the month of May and June was is 1.63 lakh and 2.55 lakh vials, respectively. Apart from this, the import of 7.05 lakh vials from Gilead, the patent holder, is also expected. .Considering the expected rise in cases of black fungus, the Court opined that there was a shortfall that had to be addressed by the Central government. ."You have 9 days for June. That's the best you are pitching... there is a huge shortfall even with these steps..", the Court stated..In response, Singh explained that increasing the capacity and usage of other alternative drugs were being explored by the Central government..He further said that unlike COVID19, the cases of black fungus would not grow at the same rate as the disease was not contagious. .Singh also told the Court that in order to have a clearer picture of the demand, the Central government has made a portal on which the States were expected to fill-in data. .Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, for Delhi government, on the other hand stated that Delhi was seven times short of its demand. He informed that the figure for Delhi, as of today, had grown up to 475 from 197 cases. .As Singh objected to Delhi government's "unreasonable demand" of 1 lakh vials, the Court responded, "Point is Delhi government may have asked for 1 lakh.. whatever the figure, how are you planning to meet is the question. Even your projections are not sufficient to meet the demand.".The Court, nonetheless, acknowledged that there was a shortage at the moment and everyone had to take a cut. ."This situation is very different from oxygen. If there is very limited supply, everyone will have to take a cut. How do we pass any order..", the Court said. .Singh assured the Court that Central government was taking all step to augment the situation while ensuring that there was no compromise of the quality. ."We will take further steps. It is something all of us our fully aware of. What is required has to be done. What progress we've made on alternative medication..We are all on the same side.".The Court has granted time to Central government to file another status report on the issue of augmenting the supply, including explaining the list on entities who can manufacture the drug. .During the course of the hearing, the Amicus Curiae in the case, Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao opined that there were genuine problems on the ground with respect to augmenting the productions. ."I'm given to understand that it requires fermentation.. only one enterprise does that. The other ingredient also has to be imported. There is a constraint in capacity and process..", Rao said. .The Court also heard a petition seeking the supply of the drug for an 80-year-old admitted in Ganga Ram hospital..Grand daughter for the petitioner and also the counsel, Advocate Iqra Khalid informed the Court that against a requirement of 100 vials, the family had independently procured 20 vials at a very high cost. .She added that the hospital was not transparent on as to how the vials were being distributed amongst the patients. .Khalid also stated that as per her information, vials are available at AIIMS..Stating that only four vials were available at Ganga Ram, Mehra remarked that the vials couldn't be sent to central government hospitals from Delhi quota..The Court, however, refused to pass any order on the petition as the counsel appearing in the matter stated that they would either arrange vials for the petitioner or shift him to AIIMS. .The matter would be heard next on May 27. .Read the full account of the hearing here:.Delhi High Court hears petitions concerning issues related to COVID-19 [LIVE UPDATES]