Generic Tamiflu Pushed for Poor Countries

Many rich countries have large supplies of medicines to treat flu. However, most poor countries do not. Roche, maker of the antiviral medicine Tamiflu, offers a discount price to poor countries. But Roche has not said how many countries ordered it. Roche also has allowed two companies in China and one in India to make generic versions of Tamiflu at an even lower cost. The World Health Organization (WHO) has its own supplies of Tamiflu. But critics say WHO also should order generics to pass on to poor countries. They say this would help tremendously if pandemic flu occurs. Critics also say Roche should let more companies make a generic product. The Associated Press reported on these issues May 11.