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Medical experts are questioning why so much money was spent developing and then stocking on medications for influenza. The tablet Tamiflu and nasal spray Relenza are commonly prescribed doctors to treat the flu. Governments have heavily stockpiled the drugs as a precaution the event an influenza epidemic. However, new research casts doubt their effectiveness and the claims made their manufacturers. The Cochrane Collaboration, a non-profit healthcare research network, and the British Medical Journal published a report based clinical trials the drugs. The study questions whether governments should be spending money the drugs.

The research says Tamiflu does what manufacturers claim that it shortens the symptoms influenza half a day. However, it says there is insufficient evidence to support claims that the drug reduces the likelihood hospitalization or serious complications. The researchers also found Tamiflu increased the risk nausea and vomiting up to five per cent, and could cause headaches and depression. Tamiflu's makers said the research excluded "real-world data". The research team said Relenza worked little better than gargling salt water or taking -the-counter pain relievers. The maker, GlaxoSmithKline, said: "When used appropriately, the right patient, it can reduce the duration flu symptoms."