The Hindu Business Line : Centre may not allow sale of Tamiflu in retail market — `Drug has adverse side-effects, not safe for children too'

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Centre may not allow sale of Tamiflu in retail market — `Drug has adverse side-effects, not safe for children too'

Our Bureau

The Government will procure the drug and supply it through its own health agencies; it will float tenders for procurement on Tuesday.

New Delhi , Feb 20

THE Health Ministry is planning to disallow sale of Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) through the retail market in order to prevent indiscriminate usage of the drug administered to treat avian influenza. However it would be available only through official health agencies in the affected areas.

Reiterating that no human infection has been reported, the Health Secretary, Mr P.K. Hota, said, "Tamiflu may not be the best remedy, but it is the only one available. It has adverse side-effects and resistance can develop. Moreover, it is not safe for children. Therefore, we are banning retail sale of the drug. A notification will be issued soon."

Bird flu has to be fought more through public health measures rather than drugs, he said

The official, however, said that the drug would be sold only under strict medical advice and companies like Cipla would not be able to sell it in the retail sector, Mr Hota said.

The Government will procure the drug and supply it through its own health agencies. It will float tenders for procurement on Tuesday. While companies would be allowed to price their products cheap, they would have to meet international quality standards.

Testing procedures: Meanwhile, the Government today strongly reacted to allegations of inadequate testing procedures and use of a Holland-based company's vaccines. Mr N.K. Ganguly, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, said, that the results were not based on a single test and were confirmed only after a series of tests. A technical committee has been monitoring the reports.

Mr Hota added that the Government has followed all the tests recommended by the World Organisation of Animal Health. On the issue of Holland banning the bird vaccines, Mr Hota said that the country as a policy does not use vaccines while the same is used in other countries.

Responding to reports of the airlines, railways, army and some States banning poultry products, the officials said that the issue would be taken up with them.

Culling operations: The Government today said that it would complete the culling operations in Gujarat tonight while the same would be completed in Maharashtra tomorrow. About one lakh birds would be culled in two States.

Earlier in the day both the Health Minister, Dr A. Ramadoss, and the Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, issued statements in the two houses of Parliament.

Dr Ramadoss told Rajya Sabha that the Health Ministry has taken adequate measures to contain the human cases of avian influenza if it was to happen. "A joint Monitoring Group was set up under the chairmanship of the Director General of Health Services and is reviewing the situation regularly."

Mr Pawar added that a series of strategic actions have been initiated immediately on confirmation of avian influenza. These actions include declaration of infected and surveillance areas, absolute ban on movement of poultry or its products in infected areas, closure of poultry and egg markets and shops, destruction of affected poultry followed by proper disposal etc.

The Central Government has rushed to Maharashtra vaccines for poultry, Tamiflu for humans and personal protective equipment.

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