Half a billion pounds 'wasted' on anti-flu drug Tamiflu that's 'not fully effective'

Researchers of a comprehensive new analysis claim that an expensive anti-flu drug bought by the government shows little evidence of success.

17:33 10 April 2014

Since 2006, UK government has spent a total of £609million on antiviral medicine Tamiflu and Relenza and has enough dosage in storage to treat more than half of the population. 

 

However, researchers from the independent Cochrane Collaboration and the British Medical Journal said that these drugs have little benefit. 

 

They explained that there is “no good evidence” to suggest that either drug have helped in reducing flu-related hospital admissions or the complications of the disease, such as pneumonia. 

 

But Craig Henegram, a doctor at the Cochrane Collabaration, disagrees. He said that Tamiflu increased nausea, vomiting, psychiatric events, and kidney problems. He added: "I am now clear this drug is not to be used in a pandemic situation."

 

Dr Fiona Godlee, Editor of the BMJ, called on the Department of Health to consider the evidence before it buys any more. 

 

"If the government spends any more money on this drug they are not listening to the evidence," she said.

 

"I think it would be a strange decision to purchase more of this drug on the basis of the information we have available to us."

 

On the other hand, the manufacturers of the drugs have insisted that they are safe and effective.