New Delhi, Aug 27 - India Thursday said that it was open to the idea of allowing the 'restricted sale' of swine flu drug Tamiflu in the market, but only if the situation demanded it.

'If the situation demands, we will allow restricted sale of Tamiflu,' said Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi.

'The situation has not arisen so far. But we will not hesitate if such a situation arises. Sale in open market needs regulation. We have not allowed open sale because swine flu is still under control and overuse can lead to drug resistance,' the minister said on the sidelines of a Life Science Conclave.

The country, he said, was prepared and had been successful in controlling the virus but it was now in the air. 'The vaccine will be ready in the world in a couple of months and it will benefit all.'

According to Trivedi, India has more H1N1 testing centres than the US.