Chief doctor warns public not to buy Tamiflu on the internet

Published on Friday 3 July 2009 22:20

THE public should avoid panic-buying "counterfeit" anti-swine flu drugs online, the UK government's chief medical officer has warned.

Sir Liam Donaldson said there was no need for people to resort to the internet to self-medicate.

He said Britain had a massive stockpile of Tamiflu and would be one of the first countries to have access to a vaccine, with the first supplies arriving at the end of next month.

Sir Liam said: "There's generally a growth in people ordering drugs from the internet worldwide, and there's a lot of concern among health authorities that people might buy counterfeit drugs.

"I think this is a similar situation – people shouldn't buy Tamiflu from the internet.

"We have got a massive stockpile in this country, and everybody can have access to it through the National Health Service."

Sir Liam added that he was surprised health services controlled the virus for as long as they had. The first case in Britain was recorded in April.

He said: "We have been dealing with it very aggressively so far – we have investigated every case, we've treated their contacts, we've closed schools and all of that has helped to slow the spread.

"We are surprised we have been able to run it as long as we have like this. Flu viruses spread extremely quickly, so this is very much going as expected."

Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scotland Patients Association, said: "We totally agree with Sir Liam's warning about not buying so-called Tamiflu over the internet.

"The government is doing what it can and is not being complacent. There is no need for people to panic and try to buy up their own swine flu medication. If they need Tamiflu their GP will prescribe it."

Ms Watt added that the public should do all it could to prevent swine flu spreading by giving more emphasis to hygiene.