‘Spurious’ injections that ‘contained no oxytocin’: Rajasthan pharma distributor loses licence

Authorities also alleged irregularities in the sale of injections that were supposed to contain oxytocin — generally administered to pregnant women during childbirth. It was alleged that the firm purchased 9,300 units of Tocin 1 ml injection manufactured by an Amritsar-based company, but sold 10,050 injections from the same batch. The Rajasthan Drug Testing Laboratory in Jaipur later declared the batch spurious after tests revealed that it contained no trace of oxytocin, its active ingredient.

A show-cause notice was issued to the licence-holder regarding the irregularities, and in response to the discrepancy in the number of Tocin 1 ml units purchased and sold, the firm produced a letter from the manufacturer claiming that 750 additional injections had been dispatched separately by bus. However, the Drug Control Department found the explanation unsatisfactory.

The department’s order stated that the firm violated rules 65(5), 65(6), and 65(16) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, along with the conditions attached to its licences. Consequently, its wholesale drug licences and the Schedule X licence were cancelled with immediate effect.

Officials said the cancellation was independent of any judicial proceedings that are currently pending or may be initiated in the future.