Home General News
Antiviral supply after March 2010
The Department of Health has provided the following further information regarding the supply of antivirals after 31st March 2010:
"The letter from the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer and the Interim Director of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Programme on the stand down of the antiviral distribution arrangements - dated 25 March 2010 - explained that antiviral medicines will no longer be available from the national stockpile and that the treatment of individuals demonstrating flu symptoms will revert to business as usual arrangements.
This means that from 1 April if any patient presents with severe influenza like illness and clinical judgement is that they may require hospital in-patient treatment, then they should be referred urgently to hospital where they may be prescribed antivirals on the judgement of the treating hospital clinician. NICE's appraisal guidance on the use of antivirals for the treatment of influenza (TA 168) does not constrain the ability of hospital clinicians to prescribe antivirals to individuals who are seriously ill, where they judge that is clinically appropriate."
Posted 3 April 2010