This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/21/tamiflu-stockpile-cost-drugs-bird-flu
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tamiflu stockpile cost taxpayers £74m in spoiled drugs | Tamiflu stockpile cost taxpayers £74m in spoiled drugs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Taxpayers lost £74m when 6.5m doses of an anti-flu drug were written off as being past their shelf life because of poor record-keeping by the health service, the government's independent auditors have found. | |
| The government also spent £424m stockpiling 40m units of Tamiflu between 2006-07 and 2012-13, despite question marks over the effectiveness of the drug, a National Audit Office memo says. | The government also spent £424m stockpiling 40m units of Tamiflu between 2006-07 and 2012-13, despite question marks over the effectiveness of the drug, a National Audit Office memo says. |
| The drug had been stockpiled to fight possible flu pandemics. But reports suggest that Tamiflu has not always been effective, because viruses have developed resistance to the drug in some cases. | The drug had been stockpiled to fight possible flu pandemics. But reports suggest that Tamiflu has not always been effective, because viruses have developed resistance to the drug in some cases. |
| Margaret Hodge MP, chair of the public accounts committee, said she was shocked by the amount of money spent on the drug, and by the failure to keep proper records of when and where it had been bought, particularly in the light of disagreement among experts over its ability to reduce complications. | Margaret Hodge MP, chair of the public accounts committee, said she was shocked by the amount of money spent on the drug, and by the failure to keep proper records of when and where it had been bought, particularly in the light of disagreement among experts over its ability to reduce complications. |
| "There is simply no excuse for this waste," she said. "It is important that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) assure themselves that they have all clinical trials information. It is essential, not only for the public purse but for public safety, that the Department of Health carefully examine how it stockpiles medicines in the future." | "There is simply no excuse for this waste," she said. "It is important that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) assure themselves that they have all clinical trials information. It is essential, not only for the public purse but for public safety, that the Department of Health carefully examine how it stockpiles medicines in the future." |
| Tamiflu was licensed in the EU in 2002. There is general consensus that the drug can reduce the duration of influenza symptoms, and in some circumstances can prevent it, the report reads. However, there is less consensus about the extent to which it can reduce complications, hospital stays and death rates. | Tamiflu was licensed in the EU in 2002. There is general consensus that the drug can reduce the duration of influenza symptoms, and in some circumstances can prevent it, the report reads. However, there is less consensus about the extent to which it can reduce complications, hospital stays and death rates. |
| In 2006, as reports of bird flu caused great concern around the world, the health department bought Tamiflu for 25% of the population, under the guidance of the World Health Organisation. Stockpiling grew, auditors found, so that by 2009 there was enough of the drug to cover 80% of the population. | In 2006, as reports of bird flu caused great concern around the world, the health department bought Tamiflu for 25% of the population, under the guidance of the World Health Organisation. Stockpiling grew, auditors found, so that by 2009 there was enough of the drug to cover 80% of the population. |
| Between 2009-10 and then 2012-13, 10m units of the drug were written off because they had reached the end of their shelf life, the report states. According to the Department of Health's accounts, 6.5m doses had to be destroyed because of poor record-keeping by the NHS during the 2009-10 swine flu pandemic. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |