The public can get antiviral medicine to treat Influenza A (H1N1) for not more than RM80 a box from the network of clinics and hospitals participating in the 'Prevention and Treatment of Influenza A (H1N1)' campaign.

liow tiong lai h1n1 flu parliament pc 220609 03 Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said till now 85 clinics and hospitals in the country had confirmed their participation.

He said under the campaign participating clinics and hospitals will be offered special prices to buy the antiviral medicine FluHalt (Oseltamivir Phospate) produced by Syarikat Ranbaxy (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.

"Clinics are not to sell the medicine for more than RM80. At one time, the price went up to RM180.

"We feel this is a pandemic season and with the support pharmaceutical drug suppliers we can reduce the price," he said to reporters after launching the campaign in Kuala Lumpur.

Besides the offer of low prices, clinics and hospitals in the campaign were also encouraged to charge a minimum price for consultation cases for influenza-like illness to reduce the financial burden of patients.

NONE Liow also stressed that action would be taken on any private hospitals or clinics which refuse to provide treatment to H1N1 patients but ask them to seek treatment at government clinics and hospitals.

"Earlier there have been many patients who went to private clinics and who were referred to government clinics and hospitals.

"I hope this does not happen again. It is time for all private clinics and hospitals to play their roles to assist the government to fight the H1N1 epidemic," he said.

Insurance companies must provide protection

Alriz, a bumiputera company, and Ranbaxy (Malaysia), launched the campaign to help Malaysians get treatment easily and at lower prices at private clinics in the country.

A website in various languages has been set up to provide information to the public on H1N1 and enable them to find the nearest participating clinic in their area.

Liow said Malaysia had made early orders for the H1N1 vaccine and the first consignment of 400,000 doses will arrive in October and the second one in January.

Earlier at the Ampang Hospital, Liow urged insurance companies to offer protection for influenza A (H1N1) victims who had bought insurance from them especially if their customers died due to the disease.

"This is a social responsibility that they have to carry out given that now not all insurance companies offered the protection to H1N1 victims," he said.

- Bernama