Flu deaths 'could be prevented'

Tamiflu is being stockpiled by many governments

People are dying unnecessarily from flu as too many restrictions are placed on key drugs, a leading expert says.

Australian scientist Dr Graeme Laver said anti-viral drug Tamiflu is effective against seasonal flu and should be available over-the-counter.

Many governments are stockpiling the drug for a bird flu pandemic.

But there are fears widespread use now may lead to drug resistance and in the UK it is only used to treat high risk groups in outbreaks of seasonal flu.

This includes the elderly and those with heart and lung disease.

But Dr Laver, a world renowned expert in combating the spread of flu and whose research in the 1960s helped pave the way for flu drugs such as Tamiflu, said many more people would benefit from it.

The current set of flu vaccines are not that effective, so having Tamiflu available over-the-counter would be of huge benefit Dr Graeme Laver, leading flu expert

Anti-viral drugs are not cures, but they may help to limit the spread of the flu virus and reduce the severity of symptoms.

Seasonal flu is estimated to kill several thousand people each year in the UK.

Dr Laver said: "People are dying from seasonal flu, but we seem to have a blind spot about it as there are drugs that would make them better in a couple of days.

"The current set of flu vaccines are not that effective, so having Tamiflu available over-the-counter would be of huge benefit.

"The problem is that at the moment there are lots of restrictions and you need to get a prescription and that can take a couple of days during which the flu will have taken hold."

'Overblown'

Dr Laver said if it was to work pharmacists would have to be in charge of testing patients for flu which can be done by a quick saliva test so that it was not given to people with a common cold.

And he added fears over resistance to the drug developing from increased use had been "overblown".

"What is the point of stockpiling Tamiflu and perhaps never using it when it could help people now."

Only New Zealand currently makes Tamiflu available over-the-counter.

Professor John Oxford, a virologist from Queen Mary's School of Medicine in London, said: "There is mounting pressure on this issue and I am sure in time it will happen.

"I am not so sure about making it available over-the-counter, but certainly there should be much better access to it."

A Department of Health spokesman said: "The Department of Health has no plans to make Tamiflu available over the counter

"However, Tamiflu is licensed for the treatment of seasonal flu subject to certain conditions.

"Where patients are eligible, a doctor is free to exercise their clinical judgement regarding what treatment is most suitable for each patient."