drugs
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In response to media enquiries on a media report on Hong Kong's stockpile of antiviral drugs for avian influenza, a spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 20) made the following statement:
"The Government seeks to maintain a target level of about 20.5 million doses of antiviral drugs as part of its Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic.
As a matter of fact, in view of outbreaks in the region, the Department of Health started to increase its stockpile last year by placing orders to procure two million doses of the anti-viral drug.
We consulted the Legislative Council Panel on Health Services on the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic, and proposed to procure additional stockpiles of antiviral in March. The Finance Committee approved an additional $254 million to meet the costs of increasing the stockpile of the antiviral in May.
The current stockpile level of the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority is around 3.5 million doses and we will have an additional 4 million doses early next year. In view of the shelf-life of the drugs and the capacity of the pharmaceutical companies, the antiviral will be delivered to us in batches. We will continue to liaise with the pharmaceutical company for early delivery of the antiviral drug.
The Government has been implementing measures outlined in the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic promulgated early this year to prepare Hong Kong for such a situation should it arise.
On antiviral stockpiling strategies, the Department of Health adopts the recommendations of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (SCEZD). The stockpiling of antiviral drugs includes both oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).
In addition, the department continues with the enhanced port health measures, which include:
* distributing health information leaflets at airline counters for passengers going to affected areas, including Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Turkey;
* broadcasting health messages on board all inbound flights from Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Turkey;
* temperature screening for inbound travellers at the airport, and questioning travellers with fever arriving from Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Turkey about contact with poultry and sick people;
* informing potential travellers via the Travel Health Service Website of the progress of the avian influenza; and
* alerting the travel industry about the avian flu situation and providing the industry with relevant health advice.
The department has been working closely with the Hospital Authority on infection control measures, including formulation of infection control guidelines and training of healthcare workers and carers.
At the community level, the Department of Health has conveyed messages about the prevention of avian flu/pandemic influenza via different channels, such as TV, radio, internet, outreach programmes, seminars and publicity material.
The department will continue to adopt an intersectoral and multidisciplinary approach to step up community efforts, through responsive risk communication, to prepare for the influenza pandemic.
More than 10 forums have already been organised for different target groups including government departments, the general public, healthcare professionals, non-governmental organisations, Chinese Medicine Practitioners, social workers and community leaders/business sectors with the aim of raising awareness and stepping up their efforts in preparedness. Health education materials have also been developed and uploaded to the Department of Health/CHP websites."
Ends/Thursday, October 20, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:07
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