Health Canada has
been criticised for not issuing a public update about the drug sooner.
Reportedly, the public update eventually came more than two weeks after
international warnings
were posted of adverse reactions to the medication among children and
youth.
The product's prescribing guidelines now indicate that taking the drug can
lead to strange behaviours, including hallucinations, delirium and
self-injury.
Among those taking the drug who have exhibited dangerous behaviour, there
have been 25 reported deaths around the world in the most recent one-year
period.
Health Canada said it has "not received any such reports" of abnormal
behaviour among young people in Canada.
But it has asked Tamiflu's producer, Roche, to include updated information about possible adverse
reactions on its Canadian labels.
The US Food and Drug
Administration and Roche issued a warning about the drug on November 13.
Auditor-General Sheila Fraser's report released Tuesday
included criticism that Health Canada doesn't issue timely and accurate health
warnings to the public on a variety of issues.
Health Canada representatives said mismanagement and insufficient funds in
a variety of areas, including drug programmes, could jeopardise public health
and safety.
