New Delhi: The government has decided to allow retail sale of Tamiflu, an antiviral drug that slows the spread of non-resistant strains of the influenza virus between cells in the body.
The move will allow people to buy the drug from designated chemists if they have a prescription even as the country battles to contain the spread of swine flu or H1N1 infections.
The notification for retail sale of Tamiflu will be coming in a few days from now. Six companies have been granted licence for making and distributing Tamiflu.
Tamiflu is one of two antiviral drugs said to be effective in treating the A/H1N1 flu virus that has reached pandemic levels worldwide.
The rapid spread of the disease, which has so far resulted in over 80 deaths, has created panic in the country and increased sales of antiviral Tamiflu, controlled by the government, in the unauthorised or so-called black market.