Oseltamivir Shortage Explained: Why H1N1 Cases Are Driving Demand & Prices Are Varying Sharply

Oseltamivir supplies are under pressure as rising H1N1 cases drive a sudden increase in demand. Years of weak demand had led some manufacturers to reduce or stop production, while unsold stocks expired, leaving limited inventory in the market. The shortage is now creating a sharp price gap across brands, with Roche’s product quoted at around ₹3,000, Cipla’s at around ₹900 and some generics available near ₹450. Neetu Chandra explains why supplies are tight, what is driving the price difference and when manufacturers expect stocks to normalise as production and distribution catch up with demand.