The Telangana Drug Control Administration (DCA) has intensified its crackdown on the illicit sale of abortion kits across the state. Following a comprehensive enforcement drive conducted on July 16, the DCA issued show-cause notices to 149 medical shops found violating drug regulations.

Key highlights

Inspection and violations

• 149 medical shops issued show-cause notices for illicit abortion kit sales.

• Inspections targeted the unauthorized sale of drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol.

• Violations included the sale of abortion kits without a valid prescription, failure to maintain sales and purchase records, and dispensing drugs without a registered pharmacist.

Abortion kits and legal compliance

• Abortion kits are Schedule H drugs and must be sold only with a prescription from a registered medical practitioner (RMP).

• In accordance with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 2002, these drugs should only be administered by qualified gynaecologists in medical facilities.

• The DCA emphasized the severe health risks of using abortion medications unsupervised, including uterine bleeding, ectopic pregnancies, and fatal complications.

Public health advisory

• The DCA cautioned the public against purchasing abortion kits over-the-counter (OTC) without a doctor’s prescription and supervision, which can lead to serious medical risks.

• Special emphasis was placed on the dangers associated with the unsupervised use of misoprostol and mifepristone, especially in cases of ectopic pregnancies.

Future action

• The DCA has vowed to take stringent legal action against any medical shop violating these regulations.

• The public was urged to report any illegal drug activities, including narcotic and psychotropic substance manufacturing in residential or commercial areas.

This crackdown by the Telangana DCA highlights the growing concern about the illegal sale of abortion medications and the dangers it poses to public health. The department’s commitment to safeguarding patients’ health through strict enforcement of drug regulations aims to curb this illicit trade and ensure that medical treatments are provided under proper supervision.