Oxytocin formulations ban to come into effect from 1st July 2018; industry lauds move

New Delhi, June 27 (KNN) From July 1, 2018 no private manufacturers will be allowed to manufacture or import Oxytocin and its formulations for domestic use.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has restricted the manufacture of Oxytocin formulations for domestic use to public sector only from 1st July 2018.

It has also banned the import of Oxytocin and its formulations.

“From 1st July 2018, no private manufacturer will be allowed to manufacture the drug for domestic use. Only Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (KAPL), a public sector company, would be manufacturing this drug for domestic use from that date,” said an official release.

The Oxytocin formulations meant for domestic consumption will be supplied by the manufacturer, i.e. KAPL, to the registered hospitals and clinics in public and private sector directly. Oxytocin in any form or name will not be allowed to be sold through retail Chemist.

All the registered hospitals and clinics in public and private sector in the country are advised to contact KAPL and place their orders with the company as the drug will not be available with retail chemists or any other manufacturer.

Lauding and favouring the decision, Himanshu Shah from MP Small Scale Drug Manufacturers Association told KNN India, “Oxytocin is misused by some people and is an outdated drug now. The demand has also gone down hence supply had gone down, so this would not impact private manufacturers much.”

He said he is personally in favour of the decision.