Sale of oxytocin to be regulated

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, September 16

Aiming to put a check on the misuse of oxytocin, the state government has devised stringent measures to regulate oxytocin sale in the state.

KS Pannu, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Punjab, said the Centre had mandated via a notification that oxytocin formulations should be manufactured by public sector undertakings licenced under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

Accordingly, the Union Government has notified Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited (KAPL), a public sector company, for manufacturing oxytocin drug. Further, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has shifted oxytocin drug from Schedule H in Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, to Schedule H1 of the same rules implying that it can be sold/ distributed by authorised chemists and health institutions on the basis of a written prescription of a doctor and a daily stock register with regard to Schedule H1 drugs shall be maintained.

Since oxytocin has the potential of grave misuse causing harm to animals and humans, the drug administration will keep a tab on the procurement of the drug in the state through direct communication with KAPL.