THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Medicine to save the lives of people suffering from amoebic encephalitis has has reached Kerala from Germany. Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, founder of UAE-based VPS Healthcare, made the Miltefosine drug available free of charge at the request of the state government. The first batch of 56 capsules worth Rs 3.19 lakh was received by Minister Veena George and KMSCL MD Jeevan Babu. Hafiz Ali Ullatt, Head of VPS Healthcare India, and M Unnikrishnan, Group Communications Officer, handed over the medicine. More medicine will arrive soon.

The discussion with Dr Shamsheer was held after the sixth case of amoebic encephalitis was confirmed in the state. Using the extensive healthcare network in the Middle East, he was able to get the medicine within days. Three children have died due to the rare disease in Kerala in the last two months. However, 14-year-old Afnan survived the disease with the help of medicine. Hafiz Ali said that the task force formed by Dr Shamsheer is trying to get more medicine as soon as possible.

Miltefosine

Miltefosine has been recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the treatment of amoebic encephalitis since 2013. Studies have shown that the drug is effective in primary amoebic meningoencephalitis infection caused by the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri. The drug is marketed under the name Impavido. It is an antimicrobial drug that was first developed in the 1980s to treat cancer. Miltefosine has also been found to be effective in amoebic infections including granulomatous amoebic encephalitis.

"This is a rare drug in the Centre's supply. No distribution in Kerala. It is in this context that the drug was made available by VPS.

- Veena George, Health Minister