After issuing new guidelines that make it easier for suspected H1N1 patients to access Tamiflu, the Health Ministry is said to be considering reaching out to domestic generic drug manufacturers to procure 20 million additional supplies of Tamiflu.

This comes amid criticism of the government by the domestic industry for its decision to confine its Tamiflu purchase from the drug innovator, Swiss multinational Hoffmann-La Roche, and its Indian licencee, Hyderabad-based Hetero Drugs.

At present, the government has banned retail sale of Tamiflu and is directly procuring the drug at Rs 280 for a pack of 10 tablets for supply to designated hospitals. So far, it has distributed 7.5 million capsules out of its stock of 10 million. Sources said the government has now asked companies such as Cipla, Natco Pharma, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Strides Arcolab, Hetero Drugs and Roche India to be prepared to supply another 20 million capsules at short notice. These companies were informed about the demand in a meeting with the Health Ministry on Friday.

Hoffmann-La Roche and Hetero supplied the previous 1 crore doses to the government even in the absence of a drug patent in the country — Roche ‘s patent application was rejected by India in March. The domestic industry can manufacture “drug copies” in this scenario.

“One has to administer the drug within 48 hours of the symptoms but where will you get the drugs? You need to make it available,” said Amar Lulla, joint managing director, Cipla. “The government gets a regular update of the stocks and raw material we have and our capacity to supply the drug. We can supply millions of doses but where are the orders? We are ready to supply cheaper drugs,” Lulla added.

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