In the absence of drugs for swine flu, the district health department officials are depending on a private hospital of the State Capital to supply the essential drug. The department is facing a piquant situation as on one hand, it had declared an alert for swine flu, but on the other hand, it does not have any stock of Tamiflu, the drug used to combat the disease.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Dehradun Dr S P Agarwal said that the drug is not available in the State and the centre too has expressed its unwillingness to provide the drug. In such a case, the health department is dependent on the private drug suppliers for Tamiflu. Dr Agarwal informed that the drug may take some time to arrive in the district.
He said that a stock of 500 tablets is available with the Max Super specialty hospital and the department would procure the drug from it if need arises. The Tamiflu is the market name under which drug Oseltamivir is sold in the market. This drug is used for the prevention and treatment of swine flu. This drug is on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) list of essential medicines and it has put the drug as one of the most important medication needed in basic health system.