Reports of shortages of oxytocin, an injectable drug used primarily as a labor inducer, have caused confusion in the obstetrics and gynecology field. Most obstetrics and gynecology centers that have a large number of expectant mother visits stock enough oxytocin to last 2-3 weeks, but JW Pharmaceuticals, which holds more than 70% of the prescription market, has announced a shortage of its oxytocin supply that will last until January next year.

In the case of childbirth, there is no reason for a sudden surge in a drug’s demand like infectious diseases or colds, but oxytocin is designated as a national essential medicine that must ensure a stable supply as it is used to induce labor in mothers. In Korea