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.

Earlier, the
Government Inspectorate said that in the boom of H5N1 flu in 2005, Vietnam
bought a large volume of Tamiflu, which highly exceeded the real demand. Nearly
half of the volume (over 9.7 million capsules worth US$ 13.4 million) were not
used and expired two years ago.

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initially considered recycling the out of date medications by extracting the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