Health Ministry To Stockpile Anti-Viral Medicine

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry is stockpiling anti-viral medicine in preparation for the possibility of an avian flu outbreak.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said Thursday that the anti-viral medicine, which is expected to cover 20 to 30 per cent of the population, included Tamiflu which costs RM7.70 per tablet.
The ministry would also stockpile vaccine such as Fuarax, which costs RM22 per dose, for the usage of the medical personnel in the event of an outbreak, he told reporters after opening the 7th Asian Dermatology Congress here.
Dr Chua said the ministry had already stockpiled some of the anti-viral medicine but it would cost more to have enough for at least 20 to 30 per cent of the population.
"We are still discussing (the total allocation with the government) as it costs between RM400 and RM500 million," he said.
Dr Chua said the cabinet, at its weekly meeting yesterday, directed the ministry and the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry to work together in preparing for the possibility of an avian flu outbreak and to take measures to prevent it.
He and Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would be meeting next Thursday to discuss the preparation and joint prevention efforts.
However, the Health Ministry had set up a national committee on Avian Flu to come up with measures and guidelines to fight the avian flu outbreak.
"These include surveillance for the 'influenza-like illness' at all government and private clinics and any cases detected will be reported directly to the ministry," he said.
Laboratories at the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Institute of Public Health (Sg Buloh) and Medical Faculty at Universiti Malaya had been designated to conduct the testing of the samples identified, he said.
Dr Chua said: "After we have been informed of any influenza-like illness cases, the Health Department will increase their surveillance, conduct house-to-house checks, conduct patient tracing and identify the hospital that will provide a designated ward for the patients."
He also said that the health authorities in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei had close cooperation to inform each other on any Asian Flu cases detected in their respective countries.