GPO to increase production of Oseltamivir

BANGKOK, July 25 (TNA) -- A sharp increase in the number of persons with Influenza A(H1N1) virus in Thailand has forced the public health ministry’s Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) to increase production of the drug Oseltamivir to 40 million tablets from the 10 million level initially established.

The raw materials to be used in producing the medication are to arrive from India next week, GPO director general Dr. Vithit Attavijjakul said on Saturday.

Dr. Vithit said the decision to increase the production of the anti-viral medication is in response to the sharp rise in the number of patients and to enable hospitals to dispense the treatment to patients immediately.

The raw materials used to produce Oseltamivir, imported from ,India, are expected to arrive in Thailand Monday and production could start immediately, he said.

The cost of each tablet which uses imported raw materials is Bt25 or Bt750 million in total, with the GPO paying first and reimbursing it later.

Presently, Thailand’s hospitals are storing the medication in lots of 1,000-5,000 tablets, depending on the size of the hospital, Dr. Vithit said.

The ministry on Wednesday confirmed the total deaths from the country’s Influenza A(H1N1) at 44, almost double the 24 deaths reported last week. It announced the country’s total Influenza A (H1N1) cases recorded at 6,776 in its weekly report.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said private and public schools continue to screen their students daily in the morning to determine whether they have contracted the virus, and if they do they will be allowed to return home.

Mr. Jurin said the preventive measure was taken in response to the expectation that the disease will become more widespread in August.

About 100 schools were temporarily closed last week due to worries over the rising number of students contracted with the disease. A number of schools remained closed this week. (TNA)