Tamiflu stockpile not enough for country

Star: Malaysia only has 1% of the quantity for Tamiflu – a drug considered a first line of defence against a potential avian flu pandemic – recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the antiviral drug available in the country was only enough for 60,000 people instead of 30% of the population as recommended.
“Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek has asked the Cabinet to provide more allocations for national stockpiles in order to meet the WHO recommendation,” he said when breaking fast with orphans and the needy at Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru here yesterday.
He said a tablet of the drug cost RM7.80 and one person would have to take at least five, which would cost about RM40 per head.
Earlier at the event, Dr Abdul Latiff presented hampers and cash totalling RM140,000, contributed by the mosque and Titiwangsa MP Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz, to the orphans and the needy.