Internationally banned drug used on Nepali Cows

Abhimanyu Dixit

Roll 04.

Veterinary drug store owners have been selling internationally banned veterinary drugs

and hormones. This is because Nepal does not have a veterinary drug act. Farmers buy

these drugs and hormones to produce meat and milk in larger quantities. The drugs,

however, are banned internationally because of the negative effect of animals and

humans.

One of the internationally “banned for use without permission” hormone is Oxytocin

which is found to have been used by Nepali Farmers. Farmer Suman Dhun Shrestha says

“My cows have not been producing milk. If I inject an ampoule of Oxytocin on the cows,

they will produce milk.”

Oxytocin is released in humans and animals during pregnancy to induce labor. The

hormone also facilitates breastfeeding. "All milk producing Animals need it at some

stage. Vet Doctors Prescribe them in many cases", says Doctor Hari Manandhar, the

Bagmati Division president of Nepal Veterinary Chemist and Druggist Association

(NVCDA), "but most dairy farmers do not go to Vet Doctors. They know Oxytocin as

the two rupees plastic container that makes their cows produce more milk”.

Oxytocin makes the milk flow faster by causing the cow's uterus to start contracting. “It

is very painful on the cows. They go through labor pain every-time Oxytocin is used on

them” Manandhar adds. Oxytocin does not just remain on the cows. It filters into the

milk.

In case of humans, Oxytocin is used to induce labor. "It is used to minimize the risk for

complication. The dosage is controlled and monitored strictly. We also monitor any

allergic reactions to the drug" says Doctor Pankaj Pant of Dhulikhel Hospital. Allergic

reactions to the drug include rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble in breathing.

Large amount of Oxytocin is very dangerous. People for Animals- an Indian society for

prevention of cruelty to animals write in their website “Children are most susceptible to

Oxytocin’s effects and it is known to have caused imbalanced hearing and weak eyesight.

Common symptoms are exhaustion and loss of energy.” They also mention that Oxytocin

seriously affects the growth of hormones especially in females because of which minor

girls attain early puberty.

Oxytocin is banned in India for use on animals. It can be sold only by prescription. There

is a Vet Drug Act in India. If anyone is found using illegal drugs on animals, they will be

prosecuted by law.

Nepal Veterinary Association has been asking for a similar drug act and a separate

Veterinary Drugs Administration, the vet version of the Department of Drug

Administration (DDA) for the last six years. This would regulate vet drug practices in

Nepal and the department will be responsible to check the quality of the veterinary drugs.

Dwarika Nath Lakhe, the chief of Quality Control, in DDA says “We have economic and

manpower constrains, so it is not possible to control the quality of every drug given to

humans let alone vet drugs as there are so many.” However, he also added that

independent non government agencies may be checking the quality of vet drugs.

In Nepal, there is no authorized body to look after the quality or the misuse of hormones

or drugs on Animals. Dairy and meat farmers have a free pass to abuse drugs on animals

to maximize their outputs. Human health and animal health have been affected because

of this.

Chairman of Nepal Pharmacy Council Dr. Panna Thapa proposes a short term solution

for the problem. “A separate Veterinary Drug Administration may not be a possibility for

a poor country like Nepal. But a separate section of veterinary drugs department within

the DDA could be the immediate solution for this problem.”

Sources:

Primary sources: Interviews

Secondary Source:

http://forum.peopleforanimalsindia.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=129, accessed date:

December 11, 2008.