Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15565
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: news
Flu profiteering accusations
Pharmacy Daily (Australia) - registration required 2009 May 4
http://www.pharmacydaily.com.au
Full text:
A NUMBER of suppliers are being accused of outrageusly inflating their prices in the face of panic buying of supplies due to the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic alert.
Pharmacy Daily has received emails from several readers confirming that Australia’s community pharmacists are “in the front line of all this swine flu panic.”
One subscriber, from a pharmacy in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, said: “All the out of stock issues with
Tamiflu, Relenza, face masks, Aquim gels, saw companies inflating their prices to gain from this panic.”
She cited an order of face masks on Tuesday last week at $24 per box, which quickly sold out.
A subsequent order for exactly the same items the day after was outrageously priced at $38, and
when the pharmacist complained she was told to ‘take it or leave it as there are other buyers out there.’
“The experience was surreal to say the least and it was a small glimpse of what could take place if
such a pandemic was to come to Australia,” she said.
The Pharmacy Guild on Fri night provided an update on key pandemic planning supplies, and has also set up a fact sheet at www.guild.org.au/healthemergency.
Orders for Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) placed with wholesalers will be filled within three working days, with the Guild saying that supplies should be targeted for overseas travellers who wish to take a supply with them.
Flu vaccine orders will be filled within two working days, the Guild said, while orders for masks will be filled within 5 working days and again supply should be for overseas travellers wanting to take the items with them when they depart.
There’s plenty of stock of gloves, while orders of alcohol based antibacterial gels, liquids and wipes can be filled within 5 days, the Guild update advised.
