Medical shops to sell Tamiflu

KOCHI: With the number of Influenza A H1N1 cases on the rise, Tamiflu, the drug for treating the viral fever will be made available in private medical shops. It will sold to individuals only on doctors advice. In a meeting with the Additional Drugs Controller here the medical stockists were asked to make the drug available in private medical shops too.

Over 20 cases were reported in the district by the Health authorities on Wednesday making the tally of swine flu cases to about 45 One death was reported on Tuesday from Muvattupuzha.

In the Health Services, all the hospitals up to the mini primary health centres would stock the medicine.

An emergency meeting in this regard would be held on Thursday to take steps to ensure the availability of medicines. Health workers, supervisors and lady health supervisors and health inspectors have been asked to be present at the meeting with a receipt from the medical officer in charge of the respective institution so that drugs can be arranged immediately.

The meeting would also discuss the treatment protocol to be followed by the hospitals. A meeting of the private health institutions would be held this week itself to strengthen the treatment delivery system.