New Delhi, Aug 8 - A large number of private hospitals and laboratories were being accredited by various state governments Saturday to treat swine flu patients as well as test for the influenza A (H1N1) virus, in the wake of government-run hospitals being overrun by people wanting to be tested or treated.

Eleven private hospitals in Bangalore were accredited late Friday night after the central health ministry took a decision in this regard in the evening. Other state governments were reportedly following suit.

Panic-struck people have been making a beeline to government-run hospitals across the country for tests after India recorded its first swine flu death Aug 3.

'We have decided to allow private laboratories with high level of bio-safety to conduct the swine flu tests but only after they are accredited by the health ministry based on their testing capacity,' union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal told reporters Friday.

The government also announced that supply of Tamiflu, the only known medicine for swine flu, will be further decentralised at district level to tackle the pandemic.