Problem with the availability of flu drugs. “I didn't think it would be so difficult”

– I tried today to buy a drug -prescribed drug. The most basic one – Tamiflu. I didn't think it would be so difficult, because it turns out that, like other basic flu drugs, it is practically unavailable. Not only in Warsaw, but all over Poland. I know, because from the morning I have been calling pharmacies all over Poland – she wrote on Contact24 Mrs. Anna from Warsaw.

She also added: – Even the pharmacies themselves are clearly aware that the problem is huge. In some pharmacies, before connecting to the pharmacist, a message is released in which you can find out that if you are looking for flu medications, you can abandon the connection, because they are not there.

On Thursday, in the Sejm, Deputy Minister of Health Marek Kos said that in the period between 20 and 26 January and between January 27 and 2 February 2, the weekly number of flu cases exceeded 200,000. people.

– We observe a dynamic increase in the incidence – admitted Kos.

He said that significantly the demand for drugs containing Oseltamivir increased – the active substance used to treat influenza infection.

“That is why there may be problems with the availability of these drugs locally,” said the deputy minister of health.

In connection with Health Ministry It issues consent to pharmaceutical wholesalers on the so -called Intervention imports of these drugs, i.e. bringing them from abroad, in a foreign language packaging. This season, MZ has issued two such agreements so far. Kos emphasized that “it is still possible for wholesalers to submit such consent.”

– We asked the entities responsible for increasing the supply of these drugs to the Polish market. In response, they declared that Monthly delivery of drugs with the active substance Oseltamivir will be higher in February and March – said the deputy minister.

“We see a significantly increased demand for flu drugs containing influenza Oseltamivir antiviral substancewhich translates into their difficult availability. The sale of these anti -greeping drugs in January was almost 300 percent higher than in the same period last year, “the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (GIF) said in response to the query” Dziennik Gazeta Prawna “.

GIF said that availability problems concern both the original preparation and generic preparations. It's about drugs: Tamiflu, Ebilfumin, Oseltamivir, Tamivil.

The inspectorate announced that producers are aware of the problem, but they have “limited production capacity”. He added that “subsequent parts of the drug will go to the wholesalers and pharmacies this month.”

On the availability of influenza drugs, we turned to the Association of Pharmacists of Employers of Polish pharmacies and the Association of Pharmacy Employers asking for comment and providing information on what the situation is now. We did not receive an answer until the publication.

According to the e-health system, in January, doctors recognized About 50,000 influenza cases a week. That's five times more than in November last year. The A type A influenza dominates – primarily the H1N1 subtype.

The increase in the number of flu cases means that in some facilities there is a shortage of beds for patients. Hospitals are already limiting visits to patients and introduce a order to wear masks. Doctors remind you that vaccination is the most effective, the cheapest method of influenza protection.

You can read more in: The number of patients with flu is growing, there are no beds in hospitals >>>

The most common complications of influenza include Pneumonia and exacerbation of coexisting chronic disease, e.g. asthma, diabetes, ischemic heart disease. Particularly hard to get flu by people over 65 years old, children up to five years old, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases: hearts, lungs, immunodeficiency (e.g. HIV infection), diabetes, stonenema of heart failure and with obesity.