Pharma Wisdom Jobs
22:23:00
3
Come July 1,
Oxytocin, a vital drug, and its formulations, used to stop bleeding during
childbirth, will not be freely available for use by doctors.
The manufacture and sale of this drug has
been banned for domestic use in the private sector by the government. Import of
the drug has also been banned.
Retail or wholesale chemists will not be
allowed to stock this drug in their shops in any form or name. The Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare has zeroed in on Karnataka Antibiotics &
Pharmaceuticals Ltd to manufacture the drug and supply it directly to
registered private and public hospitals.
Used to stop
bleeding during childbirth, it is allegedly being misused to make cows give
more milk; KAPL to be sole supplier
The drug
will be available on a demand basis from KAPL after placing an order with the
company, a release from the Ministry stated.
“Oxytocin is a life-saving drug in those
women who bleed during childbirth or undergo an abortion. There are
alternatives like Misoprostol, but the government has restricted its use in
private clinics, as they are worried about misuse of Misoprostol in
sex-selective abortions,” said Duru Shah, a Mumbai-based doctor.
Not for sale
The Ministry in its statement noted that Oxytocin formulations
meant for domestic consumption will be supplied by the manufacturer, i.e. KAPL,
to registered hospitals and clinics in public and private sector directly.
Oxytocin in any form or name will not be allowed to be sold through retail
chemist.
Oxytocin is also used to increase the size of vegetables such as
pumpkins, watermelons, eggplants, gourds, and cucumbers.
Previously the High Court of Himachal Pradesh and Shimla had in
its judgment on March 15, 2016, titled ‘Court on its own motion’ versus State
of Himachal Pradesh and others, observed that there is large-scale clandestine
manufacture and sale of the drug Oxytocin leading to its misuse.
The High Courts had also observed that the feasibility of
restricting the manufacture of Oxytocin only in public sector companies should
be considered.
The matter was considered by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board,
a statutory body constituted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
