The government of Gujarat has approved five of the total nine private hospitals across the state that had come forward to apply for permission for treatment of swine flu cases.

These private hospitals will treat patients at the government rates.

Confirming the development, Gujarat Health Minister Jay Narayan Vyas said: "We have certified five hospitals after testing their infrastructure and competence for providing treatment. This is in preparation of a stand-by arrangement in case we fall short of isolation beds in future."

Giving details regarding this decision, Vyas said that of these three hospitals are in Ahmedabad and one in Rajkot and another in Surat.

The hospitals in Ahmedabad include: Shrey Hospital, Karnavati Hospital and Sterling Hospital.

Mahavir Hospital of Surat and Wockhard Hospital of Rajkot are the other two Hospitals.

The minister added that this was done to raise the figure of beds for H1N1 patients in Gujarat.

Notably, 244 cases of swine flu have been recorded in the state. Of these 39 had been tested positive so far.

Meanwhile, the union government has send around one lakh capsules of tamiflu to Gujarat.