This is enough to treat about 25 per cent of the population, he told a press conference with Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng to give an update on the swine flu outbreak that has spread to many countries.

Mr Khaw said both Tamiflu and Relenza have been used to treat the swine influenza and they appear to be effective, if early treatment was sought. But he advised Singaporeans against stockpiling the drugs or taking them if they are healthy as they would not prevent them from contracting swine flu.

'They may even be harmful,' warned Mr Khaw. 'Tamiflu is not a vaccine. As of today, there is no vaccine for this virus as it is new...so please don't go out to buy Tamiflu or ask doctors to vaccinate you with Tamiflu.'

He added that, based on studies done last year, doctors have found that people who vaccinated themselves with Tamiflu became resistent to the drug, and were no longer protected when exposed to viral strains like the H5N1.

'You will see that if you are healthy, and you apply Tamiflu on yourself, it actually doesn't protect you. In fact you may hurt your chances of getting treatment in the future. So therefore, Tamiflu is for the purpose of treatment,' said the minister.

Mr Khaw gave the assurance that 'all patients would be treated by the government' and hence, the government holding on to the Tamiflu stock is 'the right way to go'.

He also believes that 25 per cent is a reasonable level of stockpile, and is in line with the World Health Organisation recommendation.

'In fact we have always been topping up, even just before this crisis...so at this point in time, it is more than adequate. I don't think people need to worry.'

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