Since the medicine, needed for treating H1N1 infection, will be sold as a “Schedule X” drug, the government has laid down strict criterion for its retail sale. Typically psychotropic drugs are sold as “Schedule X” drugs and a separate licence is required to sell them. Everyone involved in the medicine’s production and supply chain – manufacturers, distributors and retailers – have to submit monthly records of the number of tablets manufactured, distributed and sold, to the government.

Only about 480 chemist shops will be able to sell Tamiflu from next week.