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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Additional stock of Tamiflu sought for rural areas

Additional stock of Tamiflu sought for rural areas

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published Published on Aug 11, 2010   modified Modified on Aug 11, 2010

The state health department has sought additional 7.6 lakh capsules and syrup of oseltamivir (popularly known as Tamiflu) from the Union government for distribution to rural areas of the state. The fresh demand for oseltamivir, the only prescribed drug to treat swine flu, was triggered by reports of more cases of infection and deaths in rural parts of Maharashtra since the onset of monsoon this year.

The department has demanded five lakh oseltamivir capsules in 75 mg doses, one lakh capsules in 45 mg and another one lakh capsules in 30 mg doses. Besides, total 6,000 bottles of the syrup — each containing 75 ml of oseltamuivir — has also been demanded by the state health department.

"The required stock will be made available to the department within next two days," said S B Nadoni, senior regional director, Union health and family welfare, told TOI on Tuesday.

Early last year, when the infection broke, the state government had restricted administration of Tamiflu to confirmed positive cases only to prevent random use of the drugs, which they feared, may lead to developing resistance to the drugs. But seeing the rapid spread of the virus, the medicine is now being administered to all those with symptoms. Besides, distribution of the medicine was restricted to government health centres till September 15 last year, but was later made available at medical stores having schedule x licence.

V D Khanande, joint director of the state health department, said, "There is no shortage of medicines. We have ample stock at our disposal. The additional stock will only serve as a standby. Most of the rural hospitals and primary health centres have been identified as screening centres. The medicines will be made available to them after they exhaust their current stock."

There are 1,366 screening centres across 34 districts of Maharashtra. Besides, there are 204 screening centres in municipal corporation limits. The state has also demanded supply of N-95 masks and other surgical protective gear, said Nadoni.

"The demand for oseltamvir at private medical stores is very less primarily due to the fact that the drug is given free of cost at government hospitals. Now with the vaccine available, people are opting for vaccination," said Mahendra Pitaliya, chief co-ordinator of Chemists' Association of Pune District.

So far, 3,65,421 people have been screened out of which 50,933 people were administered Tamiflu since April this year. However, 1,112 positive cases were found of which 869 were treated and have recovered or discharged. Of these 833 were admitted in hospitals. Total 109 people have succumbed to the infection since April.

 


The Times of India, 11 August, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Additional-stock-of-Tamiflu-sought-for-rural-areas/articleshow/6290796.cms


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