'Health Ministry providing swine flu medication free of charge'

AMMAN — The Health Ministry is providing private hospitals with swine flu (H1N1) medication free of charge, according to the Private Hospitals Association. 

The medicine is dispensed upon on the request of physicians and as per the regulations of the Health ministry, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Wednesday, quoting Private Hospitals Association President Fawzi Hammouri.

Hammouri said that once the stock of medicine has run out, a request will be sent to the ministry for re-supply, noting that swine flu patients get free medication. 

For its part, the Jordanian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing company said that it is capable of meeting the increasing demand for the medication, as it is the only manufacturer of H1N1 vaccines in the Kingdom.

Demand for the flu vaccine has risen after a joint press conference held last week by Health Minister Saad Jaber and Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh to discuss swine flu (H1N1), according to pharmacies.

During the conference, Jaber announced the government’s decision to cut the cost of the flu vaccine in half, which brought the price down from an average of JD11 to JD5.5.

Assistant Secretary General for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health, Adnan Ishaq, stated on Tuesday that the number of deaths due to swine flu (H1N1) has reached nine, adding that 341 others are infected.