Swine flu outbreak: 1,679 affected but medicine selling for Rs 400 per pill, masks at Rs 350

New Delhi: As the number of patients infected with H1N1 virus breaches the 1,000 mark in the national capital, the hoarding and black marketing of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) tablets and WHO specified N95 masks to prevent swine flu have gone up with each tablet selling for as high as Rs 400 and the mask Rs 350-400. [caption id=“attachment_372576” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  More than 1000 people have died from Swine Flu this year.[/caption] While six deaths have occurred because of swine flu in the city, 1,679 people have been tested positive for H1N1 infection. Tamiflu, which is the best medicine to counter the virus and cure the disease, should be sold at Rs 500 per strip of 10 tablets. It is being sold in the black market for a criminal Rs 400 per each pill. The hoarders don’t have the licence to sell Oseltamivir. Since the drug was identified under Schedule X in the list of drugs, private chemists are required to have license for stocking and selling it. Same is the case with N95 masks, which should be sold at somewhere between Rs 70 to Rs 90 is being sold for 350-400, five times its actual cost. As Oseltamivir stock at city’s Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) ran short on Monday due to higher foot falls of patients than 25 other identified government hospitals here, people are queuing up at private chemist shops to procure the medicine. Firstpost visited several medicine shops in the national capital to take a stock of the situation and expose the nefarious trade. When this reporter visited Sri Ram Chemist at New Friends Colony, the shopkeeper initially refused to sell us the medicine but after insistence, he agreed to give the medicine for whopping Rs 400 per tablet. When asked for a bill, he flatly refused saying that he is not authorised to sell the drug and therefore, he cannot give a cash memo. When the deal was not finalised, this reporter headed to another shop - Nath Brothers – in the same locality. There too, we got the same reply. “The medicine is not available in the market. We are buying it on prices higher than its cost price. How can we sell it to you on printed price,” said a bearer of the shop. A large crowd was seen at two private chemists outside RML hospital – New Delhi Medicos and Krishna Medicos – but they said they are running short of the medicine. Once it will arrive, we were assured that will get it on first come first basis on the printed price. Few shops outside Safdarjang, the other government hospital for swine flu, were in illegal possession of Tamiflu. But no chaos was witnessed there as the hospital has sufficient stock and the number of patients admitted there is not high. ‘Swine flu is curable, don’t panic’ Advising masses to take necessary precaution to protect themselves against swine flu, Dr M Wali, senior physician at RML hospital, said, “Don’t panic. Swine flu is not as deadly as it is being projected. It is like people die of shock more than venom in case of snake bite. What you need to do is take necessary precautions. Avoid hand shake and hugging, maintain a distance of three feet from a person who is coughing, wear masks at public places, consult the doctor if you are suffering from fever and cold and take normal paracetamol. I am sure that you will be cured because all 99% fevers are not swine flu.” Listing the symptoms of the disease, he said, “If a person has been suffering from fever for 3-4 days with high temperature (103-104 degree Fahrenheit), severe body ache, vomiting, stomach upset, headache, coughs, chills, sneezing, sore throat, loss of appetite and sudden breathlessness, then he needs to be alert. These are prominent symptoms of swine flu. First, consult your doctor and keep yourself in isolation because it is transferable.” He said those who have underwent organ transplant, cardiac surgery or are suffering from diabetes and hypertension are prone to swine flu. Chain smokers, pregnant women, young and underweight children, elderly people and those who immune systems are weak and compromised like HIV patients are at higher risk, he said. “If you already have fever, it’s better to stay at home in order to prevent the disease from spreading. Always cover your face while coughing and sneezing. Avoid touching your face, nose and eyes often. It can also spread through inanimate objects like the mobile phone, laptop etc. which we end up frequently using. So, it’s better to avoid using others’ belongings. In case of sore throat, gargle with warm salt water,” he said. Adding that the disease it curable, the doctor stressed on taking healthy food and getting proper medical care. Preventing swine flu is possible, he said adding that “maintain your health and immunity, avoid stress, take sound sleep, avoid visiting crowded public places if you can. If you do visit them, wash your hands and feet well. Better still, just take a shower”.