New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS): The Delhi government Wednesday asked the 10 laboratories authorised to carry out swine flu tests to halve their prices from Rs.9,000 to Rs.4,500, officials said.

The decision was taken after a meeting between officials of the directorate of health services (DHS) and the seven private and three government laboratories.

"It was decided that the prices will be brought down as more and more people are showing the symptoms (of swine flu) and should get tested," said DHS director S.K. Sharma.

Sharma further said that any 100 bedded hospital - private or government - can treat swine flu patients if they have ventilator facilities.

In addition, 40 new licenses will be given to chemists around the city to sell Tamiflu medicine to combat swine flu.

Meanwhile, the health ministry, in order to ensure availability of sufficient medicines, has put up a list of retail outlets on its website -- mohfw.nic.in -- to ensure that requisite amount of medicine is available for patients.

According to the DHS, a total of 1,679 cases of swine-flu have been reported in Delhi and a total of six people have died due to the disease.