Just once in a while, very rarely, the sheer brutality and callous indifference of our government actually saves the country some money. While the rest of the world was panicking about the H1N1 epidemic last year the people loving government was totally relaxed. While other countries were stocking up on oseltamivir or Tamiflu, as it is commonly known, the Indian government banned the sale of the drug so that rich people did not buy up the entire supply and leave nothing for the aam aadmi. So instead of people hoarding the drug the government was hoarding it. People were told to go to designated government hospitals where samples would be sent to government labs and treatment would be given by the government doctor only if the sample tested positive. Since it took about two weeks for the result to be known most patients improved by that time, a few died. No doubt drugs were readily available for criminal politicians and thieving civil servants. Advertisements advised people to wash hands and avoid contact which was breathtaking in its stupidity because most foods in Indian shops are served by hand. Other countries spent billions of dollars in stocking up on drugs and in finding new vaccines. In the event the whole thing fizzled out. The virus was of weaker virulence than seasonal influenza, ordinary flu vaccine gave partial immunity and the vast majority of people improved with chicken soup. Now allegations are being made that the WHO was influenced by drug companies who made a killing by generating panic. Take a bow the Indian government. You saved us a lot of money by not caring how many died.