UK new Health Secretary Andy Burnham predicted the H1N1 swine flu could be infecting 100,000 people daily by August with 40 deaths per day. With about 7000 cases currently and reportedly doubling daily, one has to wonder where these projections come from. With the current mortality rate and experience in the U.S. these projections seem inflated to say the least.

More troubling is Mr. Burnham’s statement that Doctors will be given the authority to not prescribe Tamiflu if they are overwhelmed with calls. Mr Burnham is engaging in the act of practicing medicine at this point. It should not be under his purvey to make such a declaration. That is a decision that should be left to the doctors and makes no sense, given that the UK reportedly has ample supplies of Tamiflu. Just because the phone is ringing has no bearing on evidence based medicine decision making.

Hopefully, health care reform in the U.S. when not lead to government meddling in patient care decision making of this nature. If your family doctor can’t decide whether your symptoms and history indicate the need for an  antiviral drug  they should take up another line of work. If they are not allowed freedom  in prescribing we may as well stay home and order whatever sounds good off the Internet. This is also someone who is very proud of the 18 week wait cycle. Eighteen weeks waiting for referrals for testing and treatment is not a model to emulate.  Health care reform can do better than this.

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