TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

Dear Readers, 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.

1. The Central Government has mandated the renewal every five years mandatory for registration certificates and license held by fertility clinics and semen banks and every three years for surrogacy clinics through the National Registry Portal. This renewal shall attract non-refundable fees which may be doubled in case of failure to comply. This Notification aims to streamline regular inspections and adherence to prescribed standards. Government run institutes are exempted under Notification.
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2. The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has released the operational guidelines for national ambulance services (NAS), 2026 to strengthen emergency medical response and standardise ambulance services across the country. The guidelines prescribe consistent standards for ambulance infrastructure, staffing, equipment, response times, digital integration, and quality assurance. The initiative aims to improve timely access to emergency care and, ensure consistent delivery of pre-hospital emergency medical services nationwide.
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3. The Supreme Court has held that deficiencies or inaccuracies in mandatory Form F records under the PCPNDT Act are not mere technical lapses but significant statutory violations. Upholding criminal proceedings against a medical practitioner, the Court reaffirmed the importance of strict record-keeping to prevent sex-selection practices and ensure effective enforcement of the law.
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4. India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have suspended operations at two blood centres in Mumbai and Thane after inspections revealed serious regulatory violations including compromise of the quality and safety of blood collection, storage, and distribution as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and, the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
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5. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty on a food manufacturer for making misleading “100% Atta Bread” and “100% Whole Wheat” claims. The Authority held that the product’s labelling and advertisements were likely to mislead consumers regarding its composition as the product contained only about 87% whole wheat flour, and such claim would give an impression to that the product is wholly composed of wheat flour, thus amounting to a misleading advertisement. The action highlights the CCPA’s continued enforcement against deceptive food labelling and misleading marketing practices to safeguard consumer interests.
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TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

Dear Readers, 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.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has placed Pregabalin under Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, amid concerns over its rising misuse for sedative, euphoric, and dissociative effects, particularly among youth. The move seeks to strengthen regulatory control by restricting over-the-counter access and ensuring sale only against valid prescriptions with stricter monitoring and record-keeping requirements.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vI8d

India’s Madras High Court ruled that a mother need not undergo DNA testing to donate a kidney to her son when official records establish their biological relationship. The court set aside the transplant approval rejection and directed authorities to permit the donation immediately. This humanitarian interpretation reinforces that documentation standards should prioritise life saving procedures over rigid procedural requirements, potentially influencing future authorization committee decisions on donor recipient relationships.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vI8z

India’s central food authority is moving towards a centralised food surveillance system deploying third party agencies for sample collection, centralised laboratory testing, and digital alerts for faster regulatory action. The framework requires 50% of samples from organised supply chains. The shift signals a technology driven overhaul of food safety governance, raising compliance and traceability expectations for manufacturers, retailers, and supply chain operators.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vI8l

4. Global pharmaceutical companies are increasingly shifting high-value clinical research, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, and innovation-led functions to India as the country evolves from a low-cost outsourcing destination into a strategic global research and development hub. The shift could accelerate investments in clinical research infrastructure, advanced therapies, AI-enabled drug development, and specialised talent while strengthening India’s competitiveness as a global life sciences and biotech hub.
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5. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has rejected allegations of monopoly and excessive pricing against 12 private hospitals in Delhi, ruling that higher prices alone do not prove abuse of dominance. The regulator found hospitals operated within competition norms, allowed external procurement, and charged within MRP, dismissing decade-long complaints.
Source: shortlink.uk/1vI8q

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

Dear Readers, 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.

1. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, has been amended by introducing phased mandatory recycled plastic content targets, carry-forward provisions for shortfalls, and stronger audit mechanisms. Pharma, FMCG, and packaging companies must reassess packaging strategies and EPR compliance, as regulators expand enforcement and introduce verification through registered environmental auditors and certificate-based compliance mechanisms.
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYB5

2. The Government has notified the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, introducing stricter penalties for coercion, forced identity changes, and abuse, while formalising medical board certification and identity updates. The amendment also mandates reporting by medical institutions post-gender surgery, signaling stronger accountability obligations across healthcare providers and institutions.
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYB9

3. The Government has notified the Cookware, Utensils and Cans for Foods and Beverages Quality Control Order, 2026, mandating Bureau of Indian Standards certification for specified products, including stainless steel utensils, sinks, and metal cans, with phased implementation and limited exemptions for exports, existing stock, and research imports.
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYBl

4. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 was introduced in Lower House of Indian Parliament, which proposes decriminalisation of 717 provisions across 79 central laws, replacing imprisonment with monetary penalties and administrative actions. The reform aims to reduce regulatory burden, promote ease of doing business, and shift toward trust-based governance, significantly impacting compliance frameworks for businesses across sectors
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYBq

5. The Centre has proposed amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to bring social media users sharing news and current affairs under regulatory oversight. The draft expands government advisory compliance, strengthens content monitoring, and empowers authorities to review user-generated news content. Stakeholder comments are invited until April 14, 2026.
Source: shortlink.uk/1mYBx