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We can't get vital drug say high-risk pair
Anna Davis30 Apr 2009
Two people at risk of developing swine flu today criticised health chiefs after revealing they had been unable to get medication despite being designated priority cases by doctors.
Charles Posner, 67, and Felix Alverez, 38, have prescriptions for Tamiflu but cannot find a pharmacy that stocks it.
They are both staying near the Barbican after returning from Mexico.
Mr Posner, who is British but works in Mexico City, said: "This is appalling disorganisation. We have the resources in this country but we are sitting on them."
Mr Posner, an emeritus professor from the University of London, must return to Mexico next week with his Mexican assistant Mr Alverez.
Reader views (3)
What the article doesn't say is whether or not these people have a prescription from a private GP or an NHS GP. Private GPs are handing out prescriptions willy-nilly to anyone who will pay the consultation fee. Personally I don't think this is a good use of our limited supplies - the only route to get Tamiflu should be through the NHS.
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall, 01/05/2009 12:24
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Was given out on the radio [http://LBC97.3|http://LBC97.3] this morning by a phamacist the government has instructed Roche not to send out supplies.
Thanks Gordon - another success for Labour!
- Paul, London, 30/04/2009 13:23
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if it is any comfort we have the same problems in Birmingham; GPs are unable to get the drugs, unable to get protective masks and gowns, unable to get the viral swabs essential to diagnose the disease.
Excellent work has been done stockpiling drugs and getting labs ready to identify viruses, but no serious thought in how to deliver care to patients - dump it on the GPs and hope for the best is the plan.
- Brummydoug, Birmingham England, 30/04/2009 10:34
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