India Stops Sales of Tamiflu

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   No Tamiflu for you in India:
No retail sale of Tamiflu, says Govt
Tuesday February 21 2006 08:11 IST 
NEW DELHI: Tamiflu, the frontline treatment for avian flu, is not going to be available in chemist shops, as was expected on Monday after Cipla announced plans of marketing the drug last week.

The government is, however, planning to stockpile Tamiflu, also known as Oseltamivir, and will provide it through official health agencies in areas affected by the disease. Emphasising that no human case had so far been reported in the country, Health Secretary PK Hota told reporters that the ban on retail sale had been imposed keeping in view the tendency of people to use drugs as a precautionary measure, even when not necessary.

��We cannot permit over-the-counter sale of this drug which is not safe for general use, more so for children,�� he said. ��Drug companies have to supply it to the government or to hospitals. It cannot be marketed.��

��Indiscriminate use of Tamiflu can cause drug resistance,�� says Dr Shiv Lal, the director of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases. ��It is advised only for those who are in contact with poultry, like handlers and cullers. Also, it cannot be used as a preventive treatment for children under 12 years of age. It can be given as treatment only if a person tests positive for avian flu.��

Tamiflu, which was approved in 1999, was subjected to fresh scrutiny last year after it was suspected to have been involved in the deaths of 12 child users in Japan, while there have also been reports of adverse psychiatric reactions to the drug. International reports assembled for the review by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) suggested about 1,200 reports of adverse reaction around the world.

The US FDA however, on December 22, 2005, has approved Tamiflu as the antiviral drug of choice for the treatment of uncomplicated influenza A and B in patients over one year old. It is also approved for the prevention of influenza in people 13 years or older among groups at high risk for exposure.
____________________________________________________
Just when you think you got a leg up you see an article like this.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
mightymouse Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: January 27 2006 Status: Offline Points: 487	Post Options Post Reply Quote mightymouse Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: India Stops Sales of Tamiflu Posted: February 20 2006 at 8:16pm
	No Tamiflu for you in India: No retail sale of Tamiflu, says Govt Tuesday February 21 2006 08:11 IST NEW DELHI: Tamiflu, the frontline treatment for avian flu, is not going to be available in chemist shops, as was expected on Monday after Cipla announced plans of marketing the drug last week. The government is, however, planning to stockpile Tamiflu, also known as Oseltamivir, and will provide it through official health agencies in areas affected by the disease. Emphasising that no human case had so far been reported in the country, Health Secretary PK Hota told reporters that the ban on retail sale had been imposed keeping in view the tendency of people to use drugs as a precautionary measure, even when not necessary. ��We cannot permit over-the-counter sale of this drug which is not safe for general use, more so for children,�� he said. ��Drug companies have to supply it to the government or to hospitals. It cannot be marketed.�� ��Indiscriminate use of Tamiflu can cause drug resistance,�� says Dr Shiv Lal, the director of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases. ��It is advised only for those who are in contact with poultry, like handlers and cullers. Also, it cannot be used as a preventive treatment for children under 12 years of age. It can be given as treatment only if a person tests positive for avian flu.�� Tamiflu, which was approved in 1999, was subjected to fresh scrutiny last year after it was suspected to have been involved in the deaths of 12 child users in Japan, while there have also been reports of adverse psychiatric reactions to the drug. International reports assembled for the review by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) suggested about 1,200 reports of adverse reaction around the world. The US FDA however, on December 22, 2005, has approved Tamiflu as the antiviral drug of choice for the treatment of uncomplicated influenza A and B in patients over one year old. It is also approved for the prevention of influenza in people 13 years or older among groups at high risk for exposure. ____________________________________________________ Just when you think you got a leg up you see an article like this.
	Nothing matters - Therefore everything matters