HYDERABAD, SEPTEMBER 17, 2025: Officials of the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, has conducted special raids to curb the illegal sale of Abortion Kits/MTP Kits (Abortifacient Drugs) and conducted 809 inspections across the state between 22nd August and 15th September 2025.
The inspections were conducted on several medical shops and quacks (unauthorised practitioners) across the state, focusing on detecting the unauthorised sale of Abortion Kits / MTP Kits (Abortifacient Drugs), including Mifepristone Tablets, Misoprostol Tablets, etc.
During the inspections, discrepancies were detected in 234 medical shops regarding the sale of Abortion Kits/MTP Kits (Abortifacient Drugs), and Show Cause Notices were issued to the violating firms. To date, the licences of 165 medical shops have been suspended, and the licences of seven medical shops have been cancelled as part of departmental action.
The officers detected several violations related to the indiscriminate sale of Abortion Kits (Abortifacient Drugs), including the sale of such drugs without a prescription from a Registered Medical Practitioner, sale without issuing bills, non-maintenance and failure to produce sales bills, dispensing of Abortion Kits in the absence of a Registered Pharmacist, failure to produce purchase bills, failure to maintain prescription drug registers, irregularities in maintaining copies of sales and purchase bills, and other violations of the Drugs Rules.
PUBLIC AWARENESS
The public is hereby informed that Abortion Kits (Abortifacient Drugs) are mandatorily to be used only under the supervision of a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) after proper clinical evaluation and ultrasound. As per the provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 2002 and MTP Rules, 2003, such kits must be administered exclusively by a qualified Gynaecologist and only in a medical facility approved under the Rules.
Abortion Kits contain potent drugs such as Mifepristone and Misoprostol, and their unsupervised use can result in serious and life-threatening complications. The purchase and consumption of these drugs over-the-counter (OTC) from medical shops without a doctor’s prescription and supervision is strictly prohibited and highly unsafe. It may lead to excessive uterine bleeding or other adverse outcomes requiring emergency medical intervention.
These products are classified under Schedule H of the Drugs Rules and are therefore permitted to be sold only by licensed retail pharmacies upon presentation of a valid prescription issued by a Registered Medical Practitioner.
The public is especially cautioned that in cases of ectopic pregnancy—where the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, commonly in the fallopian tube—these medications are completely ineffective. If an ectopic pregnancy goes undiagnosed and such drugs are consumed, it can result in tubal rupture, severe internal bleeding, hypovolemic shock, and even death.
Furthermore, Misoprostol, if taken without medical supervision, can cause excessive uterine bleeding, which, if not managed promptly and appropriately, may also lead to life-threatening complications.
In light of the above, it is mandatorily advised that Abortion Kits be used only under proper medical guidance, strictly following legal and clinical protocols.
DCA Director General Shahnawaz Qasim said that the public may report any complaints regarding illegal activities related to medicines, as well as any other suspected manufacturing activities concerning drugs, including narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, in residential, commercial, or industrial areas through the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana Toll-Free Number 1800-599-6969, operational from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm on all working days.
