Pharmacists don’t have stocks of Tamiflu needed for suspected patients

Online pharmacies have been banned from selling Tamiflu and Relenza in a bid to conserve supplies.

The Government has ordered manufacturers to stop private sales of the crucial anti-viral drugs amid fears of internet profiteering.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which regulates drug sales, today issued a warning to consumers not to buy Tamiflu online because of the high risk of receiving counterfeit products.

A spokeswoman said: "The Government has already stockpiled anti-viral medicines to treat cases. Buying medicines online increases the risk of purchasing a product which may be sub-standard, may not work or could be a fake/counterfeit."