Rajasthan's Drug Control Department banned the TOCIN oxytocin injection after a sample failed quality tests for potency in April 2024 [1].
The ban targets a critical medication used during childbirth to stimulate uterine contractions. Insufficient levels of oxytocin can lead to ineffective labor management and increased risks of postpartum complications for mothers.
Officials seized approximately 3,500 vials [1] of the five ml injection manufactured by Jackson Laboratories Pvt Ltd in Kota. The department took the action after a sample of the drug showed potency below the required level [1].
The seizure follows reports of five maternal deaths in Kota [1]. However, the Drug Control Department said the ban is a precautionary measure and not directly linked to those specific deaths [1].
Oxytocin is essential for preventing postpartum hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal mortality globally. When a drug fails potency tests, it means the active ingredient is not present in the concentration specified on the label, making the medication unreliable in emergency clinical settings.
The department continues to monitor the distribution of the drug to ensure no further vials remain in use within the region.
“Rajasthan's Drug Control Department banned the TOCIN oxytocin injection after a sample failed quality tests.”
The failure of a potency test for oxytocin represents a significant public health risk, as under-dosed medication can fail to stop life-threatening bleeding after childbirth. While authorities have distanced the ban from recent maternal deaths in Kota, the seizure of thousands of vials suggests a systemic quality control failure at the manufacturing level of Jackson Laboratories Pvt Ltd.
