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. India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) has released the Drugs Amendment Rules, 2025, extending the deadline for implementing revised Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) under Schedule M for small and medium drug manufacturers until December 31, 2025. Manufacturers are required to submit an application to the Central Licensing Authority for seeking the extension within three months of the notification.
Source: bit.ly/4gCo0U8

2. The Supreme Court has virtually summoned the Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir to explain their failure to act on misleading medical advertisements. The Court found these states non-compliant with previous orders on enforcing Rule 170 of the Drugs Rules, which prohibits advertisements of Ayurvedic, Siddha, or Unani drugs without licensing authorities’ approval.
Source: bit.ly/42Sm6vn

3. India’s National Medical Commission (NMC) has clarified that the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines 2020 do not allow Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) to remotely authenticate pathology and radiology lab reports without physical presence and supervision. This follows an RTI application which sought clarification on the use of cloud-based technologies like Telepathology and Teleradiology for signing and authenticating lab reports.
Source: bit.ly/40VinKX

4. India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has made significant strides, with millions of Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) created and a large number of health records linked to ABHA. This is part of the mission’s effort to build an interoperable digital health ecosystem. Thousands of health facilities have registered on the Health Facility Registry (HFR), and many healthcare professionals are now listed on the Healthcare Professional Registry (HPR). The mission also focuses on supporting rural areas through technology interventions like telemedicine, enhancing access to healthcare services.
Source: bit.ly/41ektXT

5. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has introduced a standard procedure for manufacturers of certain high-risk medical devices to receive scientific advice on their intended clinical development strategy and proposals for clinical investigations. This initiative aims to enhance safety and performance by offering expert guidance on regulatory requirements before devices are submitted for approval. The move is designed to foster innovation while ensuring that devices meet rigorous standards.
Source: bit.ly/4jWxfRZ

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) may initiate the process of developing a guidance document that will outline methods for the safe disposal, collection, storage, and transportation of unused and expired drugs in accordance with various international recommendations. This follows a recent modification to Schedule M of the Drug Rules, which outlines standards for producers to store waste material properly and safely until disposal.
Source: bit.ly/4cEM07z

The Madras High Court’s division bench has overturned a 2018 single-judge order prohibiting online pharmacies from digital trade, providing a significant boost to the sector. This ruling is expected to influence ongoing cases, where the government may finalizing policies for regulating online drug sales.
Source: bit.ly/3RGccqb

In an instance of medical negligence, the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission ordered hospital officials to pay Rs. 200,000 in compensation for failing to show the patient the pacemaker as part of proper procedures and consultation, resulting in a deficiency in services.
Source: bit.ly/4brby74

The Study highlighting issues with self-regulation of UK pharma industry was released presenting patterns of company misconduct, recidivism, and complaint resolution delays within the European context.
Source: bit.ly/45MTZ03

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has suspended the mandatory linking of Central Government Health Services (CGHS) beneficiary ID with Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID, making it optional until further notice, due to practical issues and data privacy concerns.
Source: bit.ly/4buGLGM