No Tamiflu in Goa pharmacies yet

No Tamiflu in Goa pharmacies yet
TNN

PANAJI: Most chemists across India have begun selling the only antiviral drug known to be effective against the deadly H1N1 swine flu virus, oseltamivir (Tamiflu), against a prescription. However, the drug is still not available across the counter at Goan pharmacies. Pharmacists in Goa claim that this is because, "there is no demand and, therefore, no supply".

President of the chemists and druggists association of Goa Ratnadeep Kurtarkar said, "H1N1 is not a major problem in Goa. Also, the drug is easily available in government hospitals and the few selected private hospitals which have partnered with the state to treat H1N1. Till date, we have not got a single inquiry at counters for oseltamivir. Due to this, most chemists have not placed an order for the drug. Till there is no demand, there will be no supply."

However, local food and drug administration authorities (FDA) said, "The notification allowing pharmacies having a scheduled X license was issued just last week. It will take some time before the drug is available in pharmacies. The manufacturers will first have to confirm that the pharmacy that places an order has a scheduled X license.

India has already spent over Rs 70 crore on the purchase of Tamilfu, whose retail sale was banned till now. In Goa, it was available in designated government and private hospitals identified by the government for treating and quarantining H1N1 cases. Goa has seen 35 H1N1 cases and 3 deaths.

The FDA, Goa, has sent a list of 35 pharmacies in the state which have a license to sell scheduled X drugs to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization. While Margao has the highest number of pharmacies with a license to sell scheduled X drugs, 12, Panaji and Mapusa have 6 each, Ponda has 4, and Porvorim, Canacona, Vasco, and Quepem have 1 chemist each. This list was sent on September 15.

In contrast, the directorate of health services has submitted a list of 26 chemists having a license to sell scheduled X drugs to the Central ministry of health and family welfare. This was sent almost a month back. "Though we have sent a list-which was provided to us by the FDA-to the Centre, we have not received any communication from them regarding the rules and regulations which need to be followed by chemists. Also, we don't know if pharmacies can directly place an order with manufacturers or it has to be done through government agencies," said a state health official on condition of anonymity.

Therefore, it doesn't come as a surprise that some of the chemists from the FDA's list of 35 are surprised at being included. "We had a scheduled X license in the past. But we didn't renew it nor do we intend to renew it in the future. The paperwork is a lot," said a chemist. Scheduled X drugs, as per the Drug and Cosmetic Rules, 1945, are controlled drugs such as sedatives and tranquilizers that can't be sold without prescription. While selling or distributing scheduled X drugs, they have to keep a record of its sale or distribution, maintain a separate record or register showing the name of the drug, batch number, name of manufacturer, date of transaction, quantity of drug received, name of the purchaser and the remaining quantity of drug at the end of a working day.

"Likewise, to buy Tamiflu, suspected patients will have to produce two copies of the prescription of a registered medical practitioner, of which one will be stamped and returned to the consumer while the other will be kept by us. This prescription has to be retained by us for at least 2 years," said a chemist. The sale of Tamiflu and Relenza will be monitored by the respective state drug controllers.

On the other hand, Kedar Jirage, who has license to stock schedule X drugs, said, "We were told a month ago that we will be able to sell the drug across the counter. We hope to get the stock soon."

25 September, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition