Seven mothers dead after Oxytocin injection fails quality test; India cancels manufacturer's licence
Synopsis
Seven new mothers died in Rajasthan within two months after receiving an Oxytocin injection that lab tests found to be below prescribed potency. The Union Health Ministry has cancelled the manufacturer's licence and the WHO has formally asked India whether the problem extends beyond Rajasthan — making this the country's most serious drug-quality crisis in maternity care in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
Seven women died after childbirth at hospitals in Kota and Bikaner , Rajasthan, between 5 May and 21 June .
Lab tests by the Rajasthan Drug Control Department found 'TOCIN' (Oxytocin Injection 5 ml) by M/s Jackson Laboratories Private Limited, Amritsar , lacked the prescribed quantity of active ingredient.
The Union Health Ministry cancelled M/s Jackson Laboratories' manufacturing licence after a CDSCO inspection of its Punjab and Himachal Pradesh units.
The WHO has formally sought a report from India on whether similar incidents occurred elsewhere and what corrective measures are being taken.
Authorities are tracing batch distribution records and hospital procurement chains to determine the full extent of the contaminated supply.
Seven women who had recently given birth died over a span of less than two months in Rajasthan, triggering a nationwide drug safety investigation after laboratory tests found that an Oxytocin injection administered during delivery failed to meet prescribed quality standards. The Union Health Ministry has since cancelled the manufacturing licence of the company whose product is under scrutiny, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has formally sought a detailed report from the Indian government.
The Deaths Under Investigation
The seven maternal deaths span two hospitals across two cities. Payal died on 5 May at New Medical Hospital, Kota; Jyoti on 7 May; Priya Mahawar on 9 May at J.K. Lon Hospital, Kota; Pinki Mahawar on 10 May; Shireen on 17 May at New Medical Hospital, Kota; Preeti on 19 June at PBM Hospital, Bikaner; and Sharda Nayak on 21 June at PBM Hospital, Bikaner. As investigators examined medicines administered during delivery, attention converged on 'TOCIN' (Oxytocin Injection 5 ml) manufactured by M/s Jackson Laboratories Private Limited, based in Amritsar.
What the Lab Tests Found
The Rajasthan Drug Control Department conducted laboratory analysis on the suspect batch and found that the sample did not contain the prescribed quantity of the active Oxytocin ingredient — a direct failure of quality standards. Oxytocin is a critical obstetric medicine routinely used to induce labour, control post-delivery haemorrhage — one of the leading causes of maternal mortality globally — and manage incomplete miscarriages by contracting the uterus. Any compromise in its potency can have severe consequences for both mothers and newborns.
Regulatory Action Taken
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) inspected manufacturing units of M/s Jackson Laboratories in both Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and recommended cancellation of the firm's manufacturing licence. The Union Health Ministry accepted that recommendation and revoked the licence. The Ministry has additionally sought a comprehensive factual report from the Rajasthan government as part of the wider investigation.
WHO Steps In
The WHO's intervention has extended the inquiry beyond state borders. The global health body has asked India whether similar incidents have been reported elsewhere in the country and whether defective batches were distributed outside Rajasthan. Authorities are now examining supply chains, batch distribution records, and hospital procurement systems to determine the full geographic extent of the problem.
What Happens Next
Officials said the investigation is expected to establish whether the maternal deaths were directly caused by the substandard drug, and whether additional regulatory steps are needed to strengthen quality surveillance of essential medicines in public healthcare facilities. This case has reignited a long-standing debate about the robustness of India's drug quality monitoring system, particularly for life-saving medicines procured by government hospitals.
Point of View
State procurement testing, and hospital-level verification. India's drug regulatory architecture has faced repeated scrutiny over its capacity to monitor the vast volume of medicines flowing into public health facilities, yet corrective action has historically lagged incidents. The WHO's intervention raises the stakes: if defective batches were distributed beyond Rajasthan, the death toll could be an undercount. Cancelling one manufacturer's licence is a necessary first step, but it does not answer how the drug cleared procurement in the first place.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rajasthan Oxytocin deaths case?
Seven women who had recently given birth died at hospitals in Kota and Bikaner, Rajasthan, between 5 May and 21 June 2025. Investigations focused on 'TOCIN' (Oxytocin Injection 5 ml) made by M/s Jackson Laboratories Private Limited, Amritsar, which lab tests found to be substandard due to insufficient active ingredient.
Why has M/s Jackson Laboratories' licence been cancelled?
The CDSCO inspected the company's manufacturing units in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh after the Rajasthan Drug Control Department found its Oxytocin product failed quality standards. The CDSCO recommended licence cancellation, and the Union Health Ministry accepted and acted on that recommendation.
What role is the WHO playing in this investigation?
The WHO has formally sought a detailed report from the Indian government, asking whether similar incidents have been reported elsewhere in India and whether defective batches were distributed outside Rajasthan. It is one of the clearest signals that the case has drawn international regulatory attention.
Why is Oxytocin so critical in maternity care?
Oxytocin is used to induce labour, control post-delivery haemorrhage — a leading cause of maternal mortality globally — and manage incomplete miscarriages. Because it is administered during life-threatening situations, any reduction in its potency can directly endanger both mother and newborn.
What happens next in the investigation?
Authorities are examining supply chains, batch distribution records, and hospital procurement systems to determine how widely the substandard drug was distributed. Officials have said the investigation will also seek to establish whether the maternal deaths were directly caused by the defective injection and whether further regulatory action is needed.
