The antiviral drug Tamiflu will be available for retail purchase in India from September 22. The drug is widely used for treating swine flu (H1N1 influenza).
The antiviral drug Tamiflu will be available for retail purchase in India from September 22. The drug is widely used for treating swine flu (H1N1 influenza), which has caused more than 250 lab confirmed deaths in India till date. The decision on the retail sale of these drugs was taken at a meeting chaired by the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on 14 September.
Only drug stores that have schedule X licence will be allowed to sell Tamiflu. The schedule X licence makes it mandatory for pharmacists to keep a record of prescriptions, name of the prescribing doctor and the person to whom it was sold. The drug, thus, will be sold strictly on the basis of a doctor's prescription. The Government of India has notified 500 outlets in the country to sell oseltamivir and zanamivir.
Currently six companies namely - Ranbaxy, Cipla, Metco, Hetero, Strides and Roche have the permission to manufacture these medicines.
Only drug stores that have schedule X licence will be allowed to sell Tamiflu. The schedule X licence makes it mandatory for pharmacists to keep a record of prescriptions, name of the prescribing doctor and the person to whom it was sold. The drug, thus, will be sold strictly on the basis of a doctor's prescription. The Government of India has notified 500 outlets in the country to sell oseltamivir and zanamivir.
Currently six companies namely - Ranbaxy, Cipla, Metco, Hetero, Strides and Roche have the permission to manufacture these medicines.
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