DOH to increase Tamiflu use

[Pathfinder]

DOH to increase Tamiflu use

CRISIS: The director-general of the CDC said that tests and treatment for people who test positive for swine flu are covered by the NHI, but supplies are running low

STAFF WRITER, WITH CNA

Monday, Aug 24, 2009, Page 2

With close to 10,000 new cases of influenza being reported per week over the past few weeks, the Department of Health (DOH) said it would soon allow for the expanded use of the antiviral drug Tamiflu, an official said yesterday.

Since Aug. 15, anyone testing positive for the swine flu virus using a preliminary test kit has received a course of Tamiflu treatment covered by National Health Insurance, said Kuo Hsu-sung (郭旭崧), director-general of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

While the kits are paid for by the CDC, Taiwan is facing a shortage, Kuo said.

Those who test negative for A(H1N1) virus but who have been diagnosed with flu and have experienced exacerbations or pneumonia can obtain a prescription for Tamiflu, but will have to pay for the drug, Kuo said, adding that these cases would also be covered by National Health Insurance in the near future.

Tamiflu should not be given to all patients with flu-like symptoms without undergoing screening because that could cause drug misuse and abuse, while about 30 percent of people who use Tamiflu experience harmful side effects that are actually worse than the symptoms caused by the virus, Kuo said.

At present, hospitals and medical centers equipped with both Tamiflu and quick-test kits are mostly larger facilities, requiring patients with flu-like symptoms attending smaller hospitals or clinics to be referred to bigger institutions for testing and treatment.

The preliminary test kits, which cost between NT$250 and NT$300 each, are in short supply because of insufficient production and high production costs, Kuo said. The department would coordinate with biomedical companies to speed up production of the test kits to meet an anticipated increase in demand during the peak of the seasonal flu period next month.


http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/08/24/2003451877

 

[Treyfish]

Re: DOH to increase Tamiflu use

国内每周新增近万名新流感病例，卫生署因应疫情扩大，研拟放宽?克流感?使用时机，病患仍需先接受快速筛检，不过快筛试剂现在却缺货。​

Domestic per week were nearly ten thousand new cases of influenza, the Department of Health in response to spread of the disease, to develop relaxation "Tamiflu" using the time, the patient still need to first accept the rapid screening, but screening reagents now out of stock fast.

(图为克流感，中央社资料照片)​

(The photo, Tamiflu, CNA Data Center)

台克流感拟扩大给付快筛试剂却缺货​

Taiwan intended to extend payment of Tamiflu fast screening reagents are out of stock

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【大纪元8月23日报导】(中央社记者陈清芳台北23日电)台湾每周新增近万名新流感病例，台湾卫生署因应疫情扩大，研拟放宽?克流感?使用时机，病患仍需先接受快速筛检，不过快筛试剂现在却缺货。​

By August 23 report (PG's 23 electric Chen Qingfang Taipei) Taiwan ten thousand people per week added a new influenza cases, Taiwan's Health Department in response to spread of the disease, development of relaxation "Tamiflu," using the time, the patient still first undergo rapid screening, but the fast screening reagents now out of stock.

?克流感?于15日列入健保给付，快筛试剂则由卫生署疾病管制局负担、健保局垫付。​

"Tamiflu" was included in the National Health Insurance payments on the 15th, fast screening reagents from the burden of the Department of Health Bureau of Disease Control, National Health Insurance Bureau advance.

卫生署长杨志良昨天指出，将于近期开会讨论扩大给付?克流感?。​

Department of Health Director Chih-Liang Yaung pointed out yesterday, will soon meet to discuss expansion of pay "Tamiflu."

湾疾管局长郭旭崧今天透露，快筛试剂对流感阳性反应的敏感度为3到7成，其差异因病情阶段、病毒量及采检方式而异，目前专家认为即使快筛阴性，但经临床医师诊断流感且病程迅速或有肺炎者，可自费用?克流感?，预计不久之后，这些病人可获健保给付使用?克流感?。​

Chang Hsu-Sung Kuo Taiwan CDC said today, fast screening reagents for influenza positive had a sensitivity of 3-7 into their different stages of his illness, the virus load and mining-location to another, now experts believe that even rapid screening negative, but after clinicians and the duration of the rapid diagnosis of influenza or pneumonia, may be from the cost "Tamiflu", is expected soon, these patients will receive payments for the use of "Tamiflu."

郭旭崧认为，如果全面放弃快筛、完全不作检验即对类流感病患投以?克流感?，一来可能会造成滥用，助长流感病毒的抗药性，二来，未染流感却使用?克流感?，有3成会出现副作用。​

Hsu-Sung Kuo believes that if fully abandon the quick screen, totally not inspected the right to vote influenza-like illness as "Tamiflu", a move could lead to abuse, contribute to resistance to influenza viruses, and secondly, it is not stained influenza use "Tamiflu "There are 3 into the side effects will appear.

不过，?克流感?及快筛试剂二者兼备的医疗院所集中在大型医院，部分诊所或小医院?克流感?进货有限，更未采购快筛试剂，以致于上门的类流感病患被迫转诊，必须到大医院，快筛确定为A流感阳性者，才可使用?克流感?。​

However, "Tamiflu," and the fast screening of medical reagents between the two institutions both concentrated in large hospitals, some clinics or small hospitals "Tamiflu" purchase is limited, even non-procurement of rapid screening reagents, resulting in flu-like illness at the door has been forced referral, have to go to big hospitals, fast screen identified as influenza A positive, can use "Tamiflu."

疾管局人员指出，目前快筛试剂的单价约250到300元，数量不足，主要原因是业者生产量少，单价成本逼近健保给付的300元，业者的利润不高。​

CDC officials noted that the current rapid screening reagent is about 250-300 yuan price, quantity shortage was mainly due to less production of the industry, price the cost of health insurance payments close to 300 yuan, the industry's profit is not high.

疾管局长郭旭崧和中央健保局总经理李丞华说，卫生署正协调长庚生技等业者，赶快增产快速筛检试剂，以免开学之后，类流感病患涌现，届时将供不应求。​

CDC Long Hsu-Sung Kuo, and Cheng-Hua Lee, general manager of the Central Health Insurance Bureau, said the Department of Health is coordinating Venus and other biotech industry and rapidly increasing production rapidly screening reagents, so as to avoid school after the emergence of influenza-like illness, will be in short supply.

美东时间: 2009-08-23 06:47:44 AM 【万年历】​

EDT: 2009-08-23 06:47:44 AM:tiphat:http://74.125.113.132/translate_c?h...le.com&usg=ALkJrhjyxUQczyRdO_mdc4Svnx58kD8HnA

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: DOH to increase Tamiflu use

Taiwan intensifies fight against H1N1 outbreak

Central News Agency
2009-08-24 08:59 PM


Taipei, Aug. 24 (CNA) Taiwan has intensified epidemic prevention efforts as it confirmed on Monday the fourth and fifth fatalities from swine flu, officially known as influenza A (H1N1).
As part of the reinforced campaign, more flu patients will be treated with the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, with the government rather than the National Health Insurance system footing the bill, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said.

In response to a steady rise in the number of swine flu infections in Taiwan, Liu said the government has decided to ease guidelines for Tamiflu prescriptions, which will be paid for with aspecial government budget.

Under the relaxed rules, physicians will be authorized to prescribe Tamiflu or Relenza to certain categories of flu patients without the need for them to undergo rapid screening tests for the H1N1 flu strain, which are not totally reliable.

Those patients will include people with underlying chronic diseases, pregnant women, children under the age of 5, people who have come into contact with confirmed H1N1 patients, and those who have developed pneumonia or severe flu symptoms.

Moreover, the premier said the procurement and inventory of anti-viral flu drugs, such as Tamiflu and Relenza, should be expanded to meet the demand in case of an emergency.

After consulting with health specialists, Liu said the inventory of Tamiflu and Relenza will be raised to an amount sufficient to treat 30 percent of Taiwan's total population -- or at least 7 million people -- up from the original 18 percent.

As Taiwan is still recovering from the destruction wrought by Typhoon Morakot, Liu said priority should be given to epidemic control measures at emergency shelters for people left homeless by the natural disaster.

As of Monday, more than 6,000 survivors remain in shelters in the hardest-hit zones in southern Taiwan's Pingtung, Kaohsiung and Chiayi counties.

Morakot dumped a staggering amount of rainfall in southern Taiwan Aug. 7-9, swelling rivers that washed away bridges and triggering landslides that buried entire remote mountainous villages.

As many military servicemen and volunteers have been mobilized to help clean up the huge amounts of mud and debris left by the storm, Liu said those working in the disaster zones should wear facial masks to protect themselves from coming down with the H1N1 virus.

As of Monday, Taiwan had confirmed five swine flu fatalities. CDC tallies also show that the number of severe cases has exceeded 40, with some patients still receiving treatment at hospitals.

The number of cluster H1N1 infections is also believed to have hit 100, and more than 10,000 Taiwanese people are coming down with the virus each week, according to CDC estimates.