NHRC seeks action from Rajasthan over Kota maternal deaths linked to faulty oxytocin

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Rajasthan government to take appropriate action on a complaint concerning maternal deaths and injuries in Kota, Rajasthan, allegedly linked to substandard oxytocin injections.

The NHRC has intervened following a complaint by civil rights group-Jan Swasthya Abhiyan India.

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After examining the matter, the Commission has directed the Rajasthan health department to take appropriate action within eight weeks. It has asked to keep the complainant and victims involved in the process and inform them of the action taken.

The complaint cites an ET report which found that oxytocin injections administered to these women were tested by Rajasthan’s Drug Control Department and allegedly found to contain little to no active ingredient, along with indications of manufacturing violations and falsified quality-control records.

According to the complaint, survivors have faced severe long-term consequences, with several women reportedly requiring ongoing dialysis for kidney failure. Families are said to have depleted savings and sold assets to pursue treatment, including referrals to AIIMS, while alleging that no adequate government compensation has been provided.

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JSAI’s complaint raises concerns about violations of the right to life and health under Article 21, regulatory failures by drug authorities in preventing the supply of substandard medicine, gaps in public health procurement and pharmacovigilance and the absence of timely compensation or rehabilitation for affected families.

The organization has asked the NHRC to treat the matter as a formal human rights case, hold the Rajasthan government, the Union Health Ministry, CDSCO and relevant drug controllers accountable, order an independent probe, ensure lifelong medical care for survivors, direct compensation, and recommend criminal action against those responsible along with systemic reforms to drug regulation.

As reported by ET, suspicion centred on the Oxytocin injection administered to the deceased women. Oxytocin manufactured by Punjab-based Jackson Laboratories were sent for laboratory examination and found to contain none of the active ingredient. Its license has since been cancelled. The Comoany has filed a rejoinder against the order, which is likely to be heard on August 14.