The pharmaceutical firm’s license was revoked due to Kota’s post-natal deaths; WHO requests a report
Representative image. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphotos
The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked the Indian government for information on the alleged supply of fake oxytocin injections to government hospitals in Kota by a drug distributor, which led to the deaths of five women after caesarean section deliveries in May.
The manufacturing licenses of the Jackson Laboratories units in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh were canceled following joint inspections by the Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) and the respective state drug regulators.
The government’s action comes amid investigations into deaths of women after childbirth and reported infections at some hospitals in Kota, with company-made oxytocin injections linked to the deaths.
Sources from the Ministry of Health clarified that this was a routine communication by the WHO to determine the risk to public health and should not be considered a finding against the product or the manufacturer.
Senior officials in the Union Health Ministry said the Center has also sought a detailed report from the Rajasthan government to ascertain the facts of the matter.
According to officials, CDSCO, along with drug regulators in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, conducted detailed inspections of Jackson Laboratories’ manufacturing facilities to assess compliance with “good manufacturing practices” or GMP.
Based on the deficiencies found during the inspections and the recommendations of the joint inspection teams, the relevant state licensing authorities have canceled the production licenses of the affected units, they said.
Officials said the regulatory action reflects the government’s zero-tolerance approach to violations of quality and manufacturing standards in the pharmaceutical sector.
Further investigation into the matter is ongoing and further action will be taken in accordance with the findings of the ongoing investigation and applicable regulatory provisions, they added.
WHO has asked the government for more information regarding the oxytocin injections and the deaths in Kota.
Ministry sources said the WHO communication is a routine part of the global pharmacovigilance and regulatory oversight mechanism.
The organization regularly seeks information from national regulatory authorities to determine whether these incidents are limited to a specific location or whether they could have implications for other countries where the product may have been distributed, they said.
Officials stressed that the WHO request should not be interpreted as a finding against the product or manufacturer, but as part of a standard international process for assessing potential risks to public health.
Five women died between May 5 and May 17 at the JK Lone Hospital and Super Specialty Wing of Government Medical College in Kota, Rajasthan, after cesarean delivery.
Published – 26 Jun 2026 18:51 IST