This week it was announced that Tamiflu, the antiviral used to treat influenza A, would be available in pharmacies. Marcelo Peretta, a graduate from the pharmaceutical labour union said that since the announcement was made, consultations in pharmacies regarding the drug have increased.

At present the drug is not available in pharmacies, but sources at Roche laboratories, the manufacturers of Tamiflu confirmed that “during the week we will supply the wholesalers and then it will be distributed to the pharmacies”.

The pharmaceutical chain Zona Vital have said that when it goes on sale Tamiflu will cost $135.45. In Chile and the US the drug costs US$48 but if a patient cannot afford it, it is also available free of charge.

According to Peretta, antivirals in Argentina should be free: “The health insurers should be taking care of it.” She explained that demand for the drug began as soon as the first deaths from influenza A made the headlines.

She added: “In that moment the pharmacies had a stock surplus which they later sold.” Furthermore, she explained that the amount of people requesting it in pharmacies went down when the government announced it would be distributed in hospitals. ”Now that people know Tamiflu will shortly be available in pharmacies, demand for it has gone up again. People are desperate. Many go to Chile to get the drug.” Those who chiefly require the antiviral are mothers with young children and old people.

According to Peretta, Tamiflu should not be only drug being used to fight the virus: “They shouldn’t just be advertising this drug; they should also be promoting zanamivir, another drug that is considered effective against influenza A, since some patients can build up resistance to other drugs.” Zanamivir, known as Ralenza is only distributed by the British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline and has not yet been released on the market in Argentina.

“We are awaiting an order from the State. Once this demand is satisfied we look at other possibilites like selling it to the public. This is a pandemic and one needs to prioritise,” said Rosana Felice, medical director of GlaxoSmithKline.