In a significant move, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry allowed restricted retail sale of Tamiflu (anti-swine flu drug) by the chemists from next week.

However, the drug will be available only with select chemists who have the authorization to sell highly restricted medicines.

The drug was earlier available only in the hospitals.

Speaking on this, an official of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry said: "It is expected that within the next five to seven days both the drugs would be available in the retail market through identified chemists against proper medical prescriptions." Notably, a 10-tablet strip of Tamiflu costs more than Rs 280.

The deadly swine flu has killed more than 212 persons in the country so far, the highest in Maharashtra (89), followed by Karnataka (69), Gujarat (20) and Andhra Pradesh (16).