Private retailers to sell 'life-saving hormone' Oxytocin from September 1
Setting aside its ban on the sale of Oxytocin, the Health Ministry has allowed private retail shops to sell the life-saving hormone from September 1, an official said today. Oxytocin is a naturally-occurring hormone that causes uterine contractions during labor and helps new mothers lactate. But its misuse is widespread in dairy industry where livestock is injected with Oxytocin to make them release milk.
Other misuses of Oxytocin
The Oxytocin hormone is also used to increase the size of vegetables such as pumpkins, watermelons, brinjals, gourds and cucumbers.
Drug would be sold only in government hospitals, clinics: Govt
On April 27, the Health Ministry had stated that sale of Oxytocin through private retail chemists would be banned from July 1 and that the drug would be sold only in government hospitals and clinics. Later, it deferred the implementation of the ban till September 1. "All retail sale shops are permitted to sell Oxytocin," the official said.
KAPL, only company to manufacture, distribute Oxytocin in India
The government has restricted the manufacture of Oxytocin formulations for domestic use to just one public sector company, Karnataka Antibiotics Pvt Ltd (KAPL), from September 1. In a meeting on August 6, the Ministry had asked the state governments and Union Territories to place purchase orders with KAPL to ensure that there is no shortage of Oxytocin injections in government hospitals and clinics.
