Private clinics may be allowed to prescribe flu drug

The move is being considered after it was found most patients who had died from the disease did so because of delayed treatment.

"Most of those patients tried to obtain medicine at clinics after developing severe symptoms, thus prolonging the delay in hospital treatment. That's why most of them died," he said.

Witthaya said he had assigned Dr Prasert Thongcharoen, a leading virologist and chairman of the ministry's advisory committee on strategy for public health and medicine, to review guidelines for private clinics to prescribe oseltamivir to patients exhibiting severe symptoms of type A (H1N1).

Until any such measure is approved, clinics and pharmacies should advise patients to seek hospital treatment.

He has also assigned Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot and Dr Amorn Leelarasamee of Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital to investigate why Ratchaburi province has suffered the highest number of deaths.

The ministry said that as of Wednesday, Thailand had recorded 6,776 confirmed cases of type A (H1N1), with 44 fatalities.

The most recent death was a 30yearold man admitted to Bang Pakong Hospital in Chachoengsao province. Doctors said the man had been "born with a handicap" but did not elaborate.

In Ratchaburi province, doctors on Thursday performed a Caesarean section on a woman who was seven months' pregnant and severely ill with typeA (H1N1) flu.

She was admitted to hospital on July 15 and has been on a respirator ever since.

Provincial publichealth chief Dr Suriya Chomsrimek yesterday said the baby, who weighed only 1.8 kilograms, was being given flu medication as a preventive measure.

The mother is in stable but serious condition.

With the surge in infections nationwide, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has emphasised the importance of drug treatment and educating citizens about disease prevention.

"Practising personal hygiene and receiving prompt treatment are most important at present," he said.

To boost the public's confidence in government measures addressing the pandemic, he said he has asked the Interior Ministry to help disseminate information.

Abhisit has also asked the Thai Health Promotion Foundation to study ways to curb the outbreak.

He said vaccines would be the next big issue, including their distribution and monitoring any side effects of imported ones.

"The government will closely monitor the situation and adjust measures accordingly, because it can change anytime," he said.

Meanwhile, Witthaya expressed concern about Wat Suthat in Bangkok making and distributing holy water to protect against the new flu.

Even though this sort of tradition raises people's awareness, they should still see a doctor immediately upon developing flulike symptoms, he said.