The stores of Tamiflu, an antiviral medicine for treatment of flu, in the amount of 13 thousand packages, have been imported in Georgia. The medicines were brought to Richard Lugar Laboratory in Tbilisi from where it will be distributed to networks of pharmacies and healthcare centers.

According to Davit Sergeenko, Minister of IDPs, Labor, Health and Social Affairs, issuance of Tamiflu with a prescription will begin starting this evening across Tbilisi, and in regions – as of tomorrow.

At the decision of Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, Tamiflu will be issued free of charge to everyone if the medicine is prescribed by a doctor. The decision was made with purpose of prevention of the seasonal virus.

All medical institutions aside of healthcare centers working in 24/7 regime will be involved in the distribution of Tamiflu. Doctors will prescribe the medicine upon confirmation of a diagnosis.

The Healthcare Ministry will buy Tamiflu from drug stores, which bought the medicine in stores. The antiviral medicine was previously given free to risk group patients – socially vulnerable persons, pensioners, children, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.