Mumbai: Amidst the rise in swine flu cases, patients are finding it difficult to procure the anti-virus medicines for the flu, namely oseltamivir and zanavir (TamiFlu). This after the state called back its GR that directed all chemists to stock and sell the antivirals. Chemists in the city are confused whether they can store the stocks of these anti-viruses or not. Most chemist managers said they do not have a license to keep the stock of H1N1 medicines. From January to July this year, 366 casualties have been reported of which 103 have been reported in the month of July alone in the state.
Ramesh Shah, the manager of the chemist outside the King Edward Memorial Hospital in Parel, said there is a shortage of H1N1 medicines for some days and some chemists do not have any stock of Tamiflu. Shiva Patil from Shivkripa Medical Store in Parel said, “We have the license needed to stock the medicine. Moreover, the medicine is given only when the patients carry the prescription with them.”
State health minister, Dr. Deepak Sawant had asked all doctors to prescribe Tamiflu tablets to patients suffering from swine flu. Also, all chemist shops were granted permission to dispense Tamiflu to control swine flu. According to the state health department, “The main reason behind the shortage of medicines is the people working in chemist shops are not aware that all these medicines should be given with urgency. They are failing to follow the new GR, which says they can keep the stock of swine flu in their stores,” he added.
The FDA circular in July alerted chemists that Oseltamivir and Zanamivir have been withdrawn from Schedule X and moved to Schedule H1. Nitin Maniyar, secretary, Chemist and Retail Dispensing Associations, said “Many chemists aren’t aware that they require license to sell Tamiflu, which is a lengthy process. Hence, they do not have the stock.”
