New Delhi, November 01: To check the outbreak of deadly H1N1 virus and safeguard citizens against it, the government has spent about Rs 124 crore towards purchase of swine flu drugs.
In reply to an RTI filed by a local resident, the Union Health Ministry said an amount of Rs 123.89 crore has been spent towards procuring ‘Oseltamivir'(Tamiflu).
“Central government has procured 40 million capsules of Oseltamivir and four lakh bottles of the medicine at a cost of Rs 123.89 crore,” Dr P Ravindran, Director, Emergency Medical Relief, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in his written reply.
‘Oseltamivir’ is an antiviral drug that slows the spread of H1N1 virus between cells in the body by stopping the new virus from chemically cutting ties with its host cell. The drug is sold under the trade name ‘Tamiflu’ and is taken orally in capsules or a suspension.
–PTI