Tourists are picking up expensive antiviral drug Tamiflu on the NHS, according to a Kingston GP.
Dr Michael Barrie, of Coombe Medical Practice, told a national newspaper foreign patients in the UK for a couple of days were picking up the drug.
About 80 people a day are picking up Tamiflu according to a recent update from Kingston NHS.
Dr Barrie said: “Surely there ought to be safeguards about who can get the drugs because they cost a lot of money?”
A Department of Health spokesman said: “Anyone who is in the country, whether visitors or illegal immigrants, would be given antivirals both to treat them and help reduce the spread of flu to others.
“If someone had no suitable identification they would have to see a GP and be referred by the GP to the antiviral collection point.”
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