VietNamNet Bridge – The government has concluded to not find down any evidence of corruption related to the Ministry of Health’s purchase of Tamiflu in late 2005.

Inspection over the case was carried out and the government concluded that in the urgent situation in 2005, it was necessary to stockpile Tamiflu to cope with the worst. The Ministry of Health made some mistakes in formalities in purchasing Tamiflu and it must learn from experience. However, inspectors have not discovered any evidence of corruption related to this case.

In related news, the Ministry of Health has proposed disposing of 9.7 million Tamiflu capsules that expired two years ago, following its plan to recycle the drugs.

The Ministry had initially considered recycling the out of date medications by extracting the active ingredient Oseltamivir phosphate from them but later changed its mind following reports of possible harm to patients.

Stada Vietnam, one of the four Vietnamese contractors that encapsulated these drugs from imported ingredients, also said that only 30 percent of Oseltamivir phosphate can be extracted during the process, which would not be realistic financially and scientifically.

By late 2005, Vietnam had 91 H5N1 patients, including 42 deaths in 32 provinces and cities. The fatal rate was up to nearly 50 percent. International experts warned of a great epidemic in the world, which could affect up to 20 percent of the world population.

In that circumstance, 40 countries stocked Tamiflu, which was considered the “last weapon” against this fatal disease. The UK purchased enough Tamiflu for 14.6 million people, equivalent to 25 percent of population. Vietnam planed to buy up to 30 million capsules, enough for three million people, equivalent to 4 percent of the population.

PV