The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) of the Union Health Ministry will look into the issues arising out of the no-holds-barred advertisements being aired in the national and regional electronic media on the two brands of morning-after-pills 'Unwanted 72' and 'I-Pill' promoted by prominent pharma companies in the country. While the Unwanted-72 is a product of Mankind Pharma Ltd, I-Pill is promoted by Cipla Ltd.

The DTAB is meeting on November 9 and it will review whether to allow the drug in the country as an OTC (over the counter) drug or not. Besides, if the drug is allowed to retain its present status of OTC drug, the DTAB will deliberate whether to allow the drug companies to give permission for advertisements.

Ever since the advertisements began appearing on the electronic media some time back across the country, both the civil society organisations and gynaecologists in the country have been expressing concern on the misuse of the pill by the young generation who have started looking at the pills as a regular contraceptive method as the advertisements are said to have failed to drive home the message clearly that these pills are emergency contraceptives.

In view of the hue and cry raised over the advertisement of these two brands of morning-after-pills, the drug authorities have decided to put the issue under the radar of the DTAB, which is the highest authority under the union health ministry on technical matters concerning the pharma industry. The DTAB is headed by the director general health services (DGHS), and has such eminent members as DCGI himself, director CDRI Kolkata, director CDRI Lucknow, etc.

"The DTAB will review these drugs in a holistic way," said the drug controller general of India (DCGI) Dr Surinder Singh. He added that the department of family welfare will also be involved in the deliberations on this issue.

Morning-after-pills were made available just a year ago after the government gave pharmacists permission to sell them over the counter to give women rights over their sexuality and fertility. The measure triggered much debate in sexually conservative India with critics arguing the easy availability of pills would encourage promiscuity among the millions of young people. There is criticism that the easy availability of these drugs will also promote unsafe sex among younger generation and may result in promotion of diseases like HIV/AIDS in the country.