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Rich countries stock piling anti flu drugs with no stocks available for poor countries

by Medindia Content Team on Sep 29 2005 7:58 PM

Global concerns of bird flu outbreak is high but critics are more concerned with the availability of the drug is more in rich countries with no drug available to the developing and under developed countries.

Global concerns prevail possible bird flu outbreak that may occur anytime, due to current global conditions, as there are serious concerns over spread of the flu virus. As global fears continue people have started stock piling and storing stocks of bird flu vaccines and anti-viral drugs. The anti viral drug Tamiflu has been approved by WHO as a safe and effective drug for use in flu epidemic, following the recommendations of WHO, there is a great public demand and crush for this anti flu drug Tamiflu.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appealing the World Health Organization to provide anti viral drug Tamiflu as there is not even a single capsule of this antiviral drug available in Philippines raising criticism towards the stock piling of bird flu drugs by developing countries with little or no drugs available for poor countries.

Jean Marc Olivier the WHO representative in Philippines was met by President Arroyo and requested WHO to supply Tamiflu, has there are no stocks of the drug available in Philippines. Though there are concerns of outbreak in Philippines there are not a single capsule of anti viral drug available there, as Roche is the only Pharmaceutical Company manufacturing antiviral drug. The Pharmaceutical companies are selling the anti flu drugs to the rich countries which has lead to a situation where there is no stocks of Tamiflu available in poor countries.


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