Amendment of Schedule 2 to the Prescription of Drugs etc. Regulations

2. In Schedule 2 to the Prescription of Drugs etc. Regulations (drugs, medicines and other substances that may be ordered only in certain circumstances)—

(a)In the appropriate alphabetical place in the table having regard to the name of the drug, insert respectively in columns 1, 2 and 3—

“Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)

(1) At-risk adult and child patients where—

(a)It has been determined in accordance with a community based virological surveillance scheme that influenza A or influenza B is circulating in the locality in which the patient resides or is present or was present at the time that the virus was circulating;

(b)the patient has an influenza-like illness; and

(c)the patient can start therapy within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Treatment of influenza

(2) At-risk patients aged 13 years and older where—

(a)It has been determined in accordance with a community based virological surveillance scheme that influenza A or influenza B is circulating in the locality in which the patient resides;

(b)the patient has been exposed to an influenza-like illness through being in close contact with someone with whom he lives who is or has been suffering from an influenza-like illness;

(c)the patient is not effectively protected by vaccination against influenza because—

(i)he has not been vaccinated because vaccination is contraindicated;

(ii)he has not been vaccinated since the previous influenza season;

(iii)he has been vaccinated but it has yet to take effect; or

(iv)he has been vaccinated but the vaccine is not well matched to the strain of influenza circulating in the locality in which the patient resides or is or has been present;

(d)the patient lives in a residential care establishment and another resident or member of staff of the establishment has an influenza-like illness; and

(e)the patient can start prophylaxis within 48 hours of exposure to an influenza-like illness.

Prophylaxis of influenza”; and

“Zanamivir (Relenza)

At-risk adult patients where—

(a)

It has been determined in accordance with a community based virological surveillance scheme that influenza A or influenza B is circulating in the locality in which the patient resides or is present or was present at the time that the virus was circulating;

(b)

the patient has an influenza-like illness; and

(c)

the patient can start therapy within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Treatment of influenza”.

(d)After the words “in this Schedule—” insert in the appropriate alphabetical place—

““ at-risk” means an adult or child patient or a patient over the age of 13 who—

(a)

has chronic respiratory disease (including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease);

(b)

has significant cardiovascular disease, excluding an adult or child patient who has hypertension only;

(c)

has chronic renal disease;

(d)

are immunocompromised;

(e)

has diabetes mellitus; or

(f)

is aged 65 years or over;”;

““child” means any person under the age of 16;”;

““patient” has the same meaning as in the National Health Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004(1);”; and

““residential care establishment” means a place where persons reside on a long term basis in order to receive continuing care.”.

(1)

S.I. 2004/291.