I’m worried about bird flu and an influenza pandemic. Is Tamiflu available, should I wish to add it to my first aid kit?
This is something you will need to discuss with your doctor. Tamiflu is a prescription-only medicine in New Zealand and is not subsidised by the Government. Whether it is prescribed by a GP to a patient or not, at the patient’s request, is at the discretion of the GP. The issues that would have to be covered in a consultation would then be the specific indications for the use of the medicine and the importance of timely administration, emphasising that the best way to prevent influenza is by vaccination. The Ministry of Health cannot restrict the prescribing of a registered medicine which is not Government funded. With a prescription, Tamiflu can be purchased at community pharmacies, but some pharmacies may have to order in stock. It is worth noting that any community prescriptions for Tamiflu will not come from the Government’s national stockpile. For more information see the Ministry’s information on Tamiflu on www.moh.govt.
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