From Mr B. H. Whittaker, MRPharmS
SIR,—It is a startling state of affairs when a leading drug company threatens to take action against the Ministry over its refusal to license Relenza. Who runs the National Health Service - the Ministry or Glaxo Wellcome? Does not the latter make enough profit from the NHS already?
Is the company not aware that there is a well established and organised annual "flu jab" campaign? It is claimed that Relenza shortens the duration of the complaint. The same effect could be obtained by going to bed for a day or two with appropriate remedies.
I agree with your editorial comment that general practitioners do not want a queue of patients requesting Relenza (PJ, October 9, p557), but I am baffled by the comparison with penicillin.The two situations are quite different. The basic fact is that Relenza at £24 would be an expensive burden on a cash-strapped NHS.
B. Whittaker
Keighley, West Yorkshire