Quebec announced Tuesday that antiviral drugs against influenza will be available free of charge in the coming days.
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Oseltamivir for people at risk of complications that could lead to hospitalization is available from pharmacies, on prescription from a doctor or specialist nurse practitioner.
To obtain this drug, anyone who has flu-like symptoms must take a rapid antigen detection test, also available free of charge in pharmacies, aimed at eliminating the possibility of a COVID-19 condition.
In the case of a negative result, an appointment must be made by telephone or on the Clic Santé portal for a more sensitive COVID-19 test, as well as an influenza detection test.
On the other hand, if the test indicates that the person has influenza or COVID-19, they should consult a healthcare professional to see if they can receive the anti-flu medication.
“Expanding access to these drugs represents a major step forward in our efforts to promote better care for people at risk of complications,” said Minister of Health Christian Dubé.
“In my view, this is a significant optimization of our care approaches, which is timely, in a context where the needs are crying out,” added Minister Dubé.