By Dominick Rodrigues 

Mumbai : Mucor (black fungus) patients can heave a big sigh of relief in the Covid-19 pandemic. The Maharashtra Government has fixed the rates for treatment of Mucormicosis (black fungus) in private hospitals, after finding that the costs incurred by the increasing patients numbers in the state is beyond the capacity of the common man. 

 Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray signed a notification on June 4 that classified the treatment charges – which the hospitals will have to adhere to — in cities classified as A B C categories till July 31st 2021 

Health minister Rajesh Tope had announced a few days back that black fungus disease patients would be treated free of cost by bringing the disease under Mahatma Jotiba Phule JanArogya Yojana. Accordingly, the patients are being treated at hospitals which are part of this scheme and also the Pradhan Mantri JanArogya Yojana.  

Hospitals have to mandatorily provide pre-audited bills to the patients, CEO of State Health Guarantee Society Dr. Sudhakar Shinde said, adding that cross-checking by flying squads in this regard would be carried out, according to a provision in the notification.  

While the notified rates for Mucor or black fungus treatment Ward Quarantine are: Class A cities Rs. 4000, Class B cities Rs. 3000 and Class C cities Rs. 2400, this also covers  patient care, nursing, tests, medicines, bed and meals – though specialized tests or higher medicines have not been included.  

Other rates include: Without ventilator ICU and quarantine – Class A Rs. 7500, Class B Rs. 5500 and Class C Rs. 4500; With ventilator ICU and quarantine – Class A Rs. 9000, Class B Rs. 6700 and Class C cities Rs. 5400.  

 Class A cities include Mumbai, MMR, Mira-Bhayender Municipal Corporation, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan Dombivli, Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation areas, Ambernath, Kulgaon, Badlapur, Panvel municipal corporations, Pune, PMRDA, Nagpur with Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Digdoh, Wadi.  

B class cities include Nashik, Amravati, Aurangabad, Bhivandi, Solapur, Kolhapur, Vasai-Virar, Malegaon, Nanded, Sangli and all district head quarters. In class C, cities other A and B class are included.  

 Noting the fact that surgery is crucial in treatment of black fungus, the State Government has identified 28 types of surgeries with and their expenditure being set at : A class city right from Rs. 10 thousand to Rs 1 lakh, B class city from Rs. 7500 to Rs. 75 thousand and for C class city between Rs. 6000 to Rs. 60 thousand.