An MP has slammed the World Health Organisation, saying that they made a ‘terrible mistake’ and caused panic.
Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West, has compiled a report on the handling of the H1N1 virus for the Council of Europe. He told the BBC’s Dragons Eye program that he believed the WHO frightened the world into believing that a major plague was going to happen.
He was particularly critical of the amount of money that governments worldwide were encouraged to spend on antiviral drugs like Tamiflu and vaccines that were developed to protect against the pandemic.
He has claimed that the World Health Organisation’s decision to declare a pandemic was influenced by the pharmaceutical companies, saying that the ‘firewall’ which should exist between them, commercial interests and scientists was breached.
The Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr. Tony Jewell has responded by saying that after the event, it is easy to look back with hindsight and identify what should have been done differently. The WHO have said that they did not exaggerate the dangers of the pandemic and consistently reminded the public that most people who contracted the virus experienced mild symptoms and made a rapid recovery.
The Council of Europe, which has a particular focus on human rights, is set to debate Mr. Flynn’s report late r in the month.