While the two new effective drugs to counter H1N1 virus, there are hardly any sales or even enquiries for the drug coming in, said chemists.
While the two new effective drugs to counter H1N1 virus — Fluvir and Natflu — or Oseltamivir (generic name for tamiflu) have been made available at chemist shops in Mumbai in the past four days, there are hardly any sales or even enquiries for the drug coming in, said chemists.
Only chemists with a ‘Schedule X’ licence can sell the drug. To ensure that the drug is readily available to the public, the state government has also issued as many as 91 fresh licenses last week, bringing to 143 the number of designated medical shops with the license to sell the drug.
However, while the supply is available, the demand seems to have fizzled out in the city. “I received the stock four days ago, but am yet to sell a single tablet of the 200 tablets that I have,” said Ranjeet Ranawat, proprietor, Red Rose Chemists, Marine Lines, which has the Schedule X license, allowing it to stock and sell Fluvir.
“Swine flu cases are on the wane. So the demand has gone down,” he said, adding, that he informed nearby private hospitals, including Bombay Hospital about the availability of the drug. While 282 patients were screened in government hospitals on Saturday, no one tested positive. No deaths were reported either, said officials.
“Not many are aware of its availability, as it is being sold under a new name. Besides, the drug is available free at government hospitals, why would they shell out money for it?” asked another chemist in Dadar, adding that he too had not seen a single prescription for the drug.
One common misconception, chemists said, was that the drug which is now available is not called Tamiflu — which is the brand name of Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd for Oseltamivir drug. Hetero Healthcare Limited has launched the drug as ‘Fluvir’ in the retail market, while Natco, a pharmaceutical company launched the drug as ‘Natflu.’
The drug is available in 143 medical shops in the state, having Schedule X license, out of which at least 10 are in Mumbai. Two copies of prescription have to be produced to purchase the drug. While selling this drug, pharmacists have to make a record of the prescription, name of the doctor and the person to whom it was sold.
The drugs are priced in the range of Rs 450 - Rs 480 for 10 capsules.
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