To put a check on misuse of Oxytocin, Punjab government has devised stringent measures to regulate Oxytocin sale in the state.
The state Food and Drug Administration commissioner KS Pannu said that the Central 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, 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 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, he said.
Since Oxytocin has the potential of grave misuse causing harm to animals and humans, Punjab Drug Administration will keep a tab on procurement of the drug in Punjab through direct communication with KAPL, said Pannu.
Thereafter, its distribution within the state will be monitored and the retail sale will be under strict vigil, he added. Pannu said, "Gone are the days of off-the-shelf sale of Oxytocin drug. It will be sold by the chemists having proper purchase documents and they would then sell it only on due prescription of a physician or veterinarian."
At the time of sale of the drug, the chemist is to keep the record of the doctor's prescription as well as the identity proof of the buyer and also enter the details in daily stock register of Schedule H1 drugs. The Commissionerate will maintain the complete record of buyers or sellers and the doctors prescribing the drug, said Pannu.
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 Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940.