With the Oxytocin drug continuing to find its way in the illegal market to be used by farmers and dairy owners for extracting more milk from cows and buffaloes, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has called for constitution of task force in each district to regulate the sale of the drug.
At the same time, the manufacturers of Oxytocin drug have also been asked to maintain a monthly record of sale and production to avoid its misuse. In the long run, the drug, which is used in the form of injection, lowers the life span of cows and makes them infertile sooner.
In a recent circular, the DCGI under the Union Health Ministry has also asked them to submit the details of the license as well sale and production details to their respective State Drug Controllers or face punitive action. The manufacture and sale of the drug without licence is a cognisable and non-bailable offence under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The Government's move to tighten regulation, production and distribution of the drug follows a Himachal Pradesh High Court order which has directed the Centre to take steps to curb its misuse. HP Chief justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan had taken suo moto cognisance of reports about misuse of Oxytocin in dairy, agriculture and horticulture sectors in the State.
Even though the drug is considered an essential in medical practice for certain conditions in human as well as veterinary field, the alleged abundant availability and use of the drug in a clandestine way is becoming a matter of grave concern. Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi too has been expressing concern at the public health menace. The drug has medical use for induction and augmentation of labour, to control post partum bleeding and uterine hypo tonicity. The Agriculture Ministry has opposed a complete ban on its production and use for veterinary use asserting that it has therapeutic application in case of expulsion of fetus, retention of placenta.