Pharmacies across the State have received instructions from Tamilnadu Drugs Control Department. If persons are looking for medications for fever without prescriptions they should be referred to the nearest government medical facility. Across the State there are approximately  40,000 medical shops said Mr.Sivabalan  Director of Drugs Control. He added that without prescriptions Paracetamol tablets should not be sold.  “We have instructed pharmacies through the assistant directors and drug inspectors of the department not to issue any tablets for fever over the counter. If persons seek medications over the counter, they should be referred to the nearest government hospital,” he said. Antiviral medicines like Oseltamivir — in tablet should be of adequate stock.  “If private nursing homes do not have Oseltamivir, they can approach the respective deputy director of health services for getting the stock,” he said. To ensure easy availability on ordinary licence Oseltamivir was removed from the list of Schedule ‘X ‘drugs. “Wholesale drug distributors should ensure that the order is placed by a registered medical practitioner and they should get the written order. If this is not done, legal action will be taken against them,” he said.