Oxytocin sale to be regulated in Punjab

Punjab: Aiming to put a check on misuse of Oxytocin, the State government has devised stringent measures to regulate Oxytocin sale in Punjab, informed KS Pannu Commissioner Food and Drug Administration Punjab.

He informed that the government has mandated via a notification that Oxytocin formulations shall be manufactured by public sector undertakings licensed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945.

Accordingly, Union government has notified Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited( KAPL ) a Public Sector Company for manufacturing Oxytocin drug. Further, 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 or 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.

Read Also: Oxytocin manufacture banned from 1st July 2018, only this one firm will manufacture it

"Since Oxytocin has the potential of grave misuse causing harm to animals and humans, Drug Administration Punjab will keep a tab on the procurement of the drug in Punjab through direct communication with KAPL. Thereafter, its distribution within the State will be monitored and the retail sale will be under strict vigil. Gone are the days of off the shelf sale of Oxytocin drug," said Pannu, adding that it will be sold by the chemists having proper purchase documents and they would then sell it only on the due prescription of a physician.

Exhorting the concerned to stick by the regulations, Pannu said that any violation of instructions should invite strict legal action against the delinquents as per the provisions of the Drug and Cosmetics Act,1940.