Oxytocin GS 3 EMPOWER IAS

Oxytocin

 

In news:

• SC refers Oxytocin ban to larger bench

 

Important facts from the news:

• SC larger bench to decide over restricting manufacture of Oxytocin to single PSU
• The bench will decide whether imposing a ban on private companies to manufacture the controversial but life-saving drug is in public interest or not.
• The Centre in April, 2018, had prohibited private firms from the sale and manufacture of Oxytocin on the grounds of widespread misuse of the drug in the dairy sector to increase milk productivity.
• The government decided to confine the drug's manufacturing to Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a govt company
• However, domestic drug firms and non government organisation-All India Drugs Action Network (AIDAN) resisted the move to regulate the life saving drug and approached the court.

 

Issues raised:

• The unregulated and clandestine manufacture of the drug Oxytocin, which is reportedly misused in milch animals.
• The continued supply of an essential life­saving drug, which is used as the first line drug for prevention and treatment of post­partum haemorrhage at the time of childbirth.
• Whether a drug included in the NLEM under Schedule 1 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, notified under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 would be subject to the provisions of Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
• Whether it would be in public interest to restrict the manufacture of a lifesaving drug for domestic use, to a single public sector undertaking, to the complete exclusion of the private sector companies, particularly in view of the high maternal mortality rates in the country.
• Whether the object of curbing the clandestine manufacture and unregulated use of the drug Oxytocin, which is covered by Section 18 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, can be achieved by taking recourse to Section 26A by imposing a ban on the manufacture of licensed drugs by private sector companies
• Whether the exercise of power by the Central Government under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 is legislative or executive in nature
• Section 26A gives powers to the government to ban drugs or prohibit their manufacture.
• Whether the impugned notification has resulted in creating a monopoly in favour of public sector companies, to the complete exclusion of private sector companies, and if so, whether it would be protected by Article 19(6)(ii) read with Article 14 of the Constitution.
• Whether the classification made by the impugned notification between licensed public sector and private sector companies in the manufacture of the drug Oxytocin for domestic use would achieve the object and purpose of preventing the unregulated and illegal use of the drug.

 

About Oxytocin:

• Oxytocin, is a uterine stimulant hormone, prescribed for the initiation of uterine contractions and induction of labour in women, as well as stimulation of contractions during labour. 
• It is also used to help abort the foetus in cases of incomplete abortion or miscarriage, and to control bleeding after childbirth. It may be used for breast engorgement. However, it is also used widely in the dairy industry, agriculture and horticulture to boost production.

• Oxytocin is included as a lifesaving drug in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).
• It acts both as a hormone and as a brain neurotransmitter.

 

Danger:

• Oxytocin is used to increase the size of vegetables such as pumpkins, watermelons, eggplants, gourds, and cucumbers.
• Oxytocin is a naturally-occurring hormone that causes uterine contractions during labour and helps new mothers lactate. However, the drug is misused in the dairy industry where livestock is injected with Oxytocin to make them release milk at a time convenient to farmers.
• It is misused on young girls to induce puberty.

 

Functions:

 

Source)\https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/sc-refers-oxytocin-ban-to-larger-bench/article29227330.ece