# 3531
For a number of years the UK, the United States, Canada - along with dozens of other nations - have been preparing in earnest for a serious bird flu pandemic.
Billions have been spent formulating plans, stockpiling medications, and training personnel.
Some of these plans will work as envisioned, while other may require serious revision. Until they can be tested `under fire’, there really is no way of knowing just how good these plans really are.
Today Fergus Walsh, BBC Medical Correspondent, has a good article on his test drive of the flu hotline, including concerns that those without a need for antivirals will find a way to `work the system’ to acquire them.
National pandemic service: A leap of faith
Fergus Walsh | 11:07 UK time, Thursday, 23 July 2009
There are a lot of anxious people at the Department of Health today. At lunchtime, there will be an important change in the way H1N1 swine flu is managed in England.
The National Pandemic Flu Service is planned to go live (see the BBC's Q&A here). There will be a unique phone number for people with symptoms to go through an assessment and, where appropriate, to get a unique authorisation number for a course of antivirals.
The focus of the service, however, is online. I've been told by officials that the recommended route for those with internet access will be the website rather than the phone line.
It's the first time that a health service has offered prescription medicine online to anyone who can answer a checklist.
The oseltamivir (Tamiflu) - and the zanamivir (Relenza) for pregnant women - will be free; there will not even be the usual prescription charge. This leap of faith is pretty big.
• Firstly, can members of the public be trusted not to abuse the system by trying to get antivirals when they don't need them? More on that later.
• Secondly, will the website and phone line be able to cope with the demand?
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