08.05.09

Pharmacists will be unable to buy further supplies of antiviral drug Tamiflu as the UK prepares for a possible swine flu pandemic, the government has confirmed.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health (DH) said it was working with manufacturers to increase its stockpile of treatment courses to cover 80 per cent of the population from the current level of 50 per cent.

The spokesperson added that Tamiflu had not been withdrawn from pharmacy supply but that antiviral medication will be made available for eligible cases at local level by health protection units.

The confirmation came as AAH announced it no longer had stock of either Tamiflu or alternative antiviral Relenza. A spokesperson for the wholesaler said it would not be receiving further supplies from manufacturers “in the foreseeable future”.

The number of confirmed UK swine flu cases rose to 27 over the Bank Holiday weekend. Over 300 further cases are under investigation.
(Chemist & Druggist: 5 May 2009)