Rio - Minister of Health, Saraiva Felipe, reports that the country is negotiating a delivery of 9 million doses of the antiviral Oseltamivir, known by the brand name Tamiflur, which is the only drug available at the moment that has any effect against bird flu.

The minister explained that Brazil is not contemplating breaking the Tamiflur patent for the simple reason that the country could not manufacture it if it did. Made by Roche, the drug is made with advanced technology that only the Swiss pharmaceutical firm possesses.

Saraiva Felipe declared that what Brazil is negotiating is the delivery of the drug in an advanced, but not final, stage of production. "If Roche agrees to do that, we can have the Oswaldo Cruz lab (Fiocruz) complete the manufacturing process here in Brazil," he said.

At the same time, according to the minister, Brazil is in talks at the World Trade Organization on the possibility of Roche not just surrendering its patent rights, but making the Tamiflur production process public so countries all over the world will be able to make the drug and deal with the bird flu pandemic, if it occurs.

With regard to the government's pandemic plan budget of US$72 million, the minister said the amount was modest. "Speaking as an epidemiologist, there is no doubt that in the case of a real pandemic we will need supplementary funding, big funding," he said.

As for Brazil's public health system's (SUS) capability to handle a pandemic, Saraiva Felipe said that even with all its problems the SUS provides healthcare to 80% of Brazil's population. "The important thing is that, for better or worse, we do have a public healthcare system in place. That is something many other countries do not have, even some developed countries. They will have to depend on the private sector in the case of a pandemic. That is a very complicated situation," concluded the minister.

Translator: Allen Bennett