Dear Reader, We are happy to share the most interesting legal and policy updates concerning health industry that we read today. We hope you enjoy reading it.
Policy on online sale of drugs to be framed within four months
India’s Delhi High Court has directed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to come up with a policy on online sales of drugs within four months without fail, i.e., before July 3, 2024. The next date of hearing is July 8, 2024.
Source: bit.ly/3wHBvAT
Suspension/cancellation of license or registration in public interest without grant of hearing will not be legally tenable if the adjudicating authority does not give justification as to how public interest is affected
The Supreme Court of India ruled that if an authority exercises the power of suspension or cancellation of a license or registration in the public interest, then the authority is required to provide reasons as to how it has arrived at the opinion that the public interest will be served by the suspension or cancellation of the license or registration. Authorities typically use their powers to take action in the public interest and do not give notice to businesses before taking action, which is contrary to the principles of natural justice.
Source: bit.ly/49WyWtv
Indian Government to consult state government to standardize the medical treatment charges across the country
India’s Ministry of Health is reportedly taking steps to consult all state governments before notifying uniform ceiling prices for treatment at healthcare facilities across the country. The Supreme Court has recently directed the government to exercise its powers and fix ceiling prices for medical treatment given by hospitals, or else the Supreme Court will fix ceiling prices as prevalent in the Central Government Health Scheme.
Source: bit.ly/49X39rI
Gujarat’s State Pollution Control Board takes stringent action against recyclers for not complying with the EPR guidelines
India’s Gujarat State Pollution Control Board has directed the closure of the manufacturing unit of one of the recyclers and imposed an environment compensation of Rs. 5,74,10,000/- on account of a violation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The board has debarred the EPR registration issued to the unit of the recycler on the EPR portal and revoked the consent order issued to the unit for violating EPR guidelines by submitting false information regarding the actual processing capacity of the unit and generating EPR certificates in excess of the actual processing capacity.
Source: bit.ly/3V8X3Ay
World Health Organization launches Neonatal Screening Guidelines for detection of disabilities
The World Health Organization has launched its Neonatal Screening Implementation Guidelines in Southeast Asia. These guidelines have been launched to help build capacity for pre-symptomatic detection of hearing and sight disabilities and neonatal jaundice.
Source: bit.ly/3T98chW