The company official said that the central government had given them the go ahead along with four other companies to supply these drugs to the government.

'The government said the tender will be equally distributed among five parties and we are ready to supply any number of doses to the government.'

Natco Pharma said it has manufacturing facilities in Andhra Pradesh and Dehradun and employs around 2,000 people.

Officials said they have entered into an agreement with Medplus, a chemist retail chain with required permission from the authorities, to sell the drug over-the-counter but only under medical prescription.