Many chemists still don't have H1N1 drugs

AHMEDABAD: Chemists and drug stores do not seem to be taking the swine flu threat seriously. Many have still not procured critical H1N1 drugs, even after more than a month since the state government declared the names of chemists in Ahmedabad from whom one can procure Fluvir, Viranza, Anti-Flu medicines on a doctor's prescription.

Of the 47 counters that were earmarked for these medicines, only 14 counters have ordered for these medicines. Today patients' relatives have to approach one of the six stockists of schedule-X drugs to procure these medicines. In fact the food and drugs administration has sternly warned chemists who still have not stocked medicines ahead of the swine flu onslaught.

The state government had declared names of 19 counters on September 23 and then few days later the chemists were increased to 47. The names of the designated chemists for the state have been put up on the state health department's website.

As a precautionary measure the state government apart from Fluvir have also asked designated stockists to store Viranza another anti-viral drug if the suspected patients shows resistance to Tamiflu or Fluvir.

"The drugs were made available across the counters so that private doctors start the Fluvir/Tamiflu treatment as early as possible on suspected patients. An early intervention would mean greater chances of survival. But still many chemists desisted from ordering these medicines thinking that the problem is not grave. They may be right but the state government's notification should be respected," says a stockists of medicines.

There are four stockists in the city who have licences to store schedule-X drugs and F&D department are keeping track of the chemists in the state. The number of stockists who have been earmarked are KR Mehta, Dhruvi Pharma, Krishna Sales Corporation, Manish Medical and Shah and Kothari.

Source: Timesofindia