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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.

1. India’s drug price control authority, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has issued an Office Memorandum instructing drug manufacturers to revise the prices of the drugs on which customs duty has been reduced.
Source: bit.ly/4gNNEVW

2. The Materiovigilance Programme of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has published an updated Draft Adverse Event Reporting Form for In-Vitro Medical Devices seeking public comment. The last date for receiving public comment is 5th March 2025.
Source: bit.ly/3Qn7kW2

3. In its recent meeting, the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), a policy advisory committee to India’s drug regulator, has raised the proposal to include Anti-microbial drugs in the definition of “New Drug” under the New Drugs and Clinical Trial (Rules), 2019 in an attempt to heighten the oversight of antimicrobial drugs.
Source: bit.ly/3QqZlao

4. India’s Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has revealed plans to include the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the national immunization program this year. During the recent Budget session of Parliament, Minister of State for Health stated that the details for its implementation are currently being worked out.
Source: bit.ly/4hH6dMR

5. Representatives of the Pharmaceutical industry in the United States are set to meet with the new administration in a bid to revise price-control regulations, and the United States government’s right to negotiate Drug Prices with pharmaceutical companies.
Source: bit.ly/4i5UEP4

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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.

1. India’s Central Drug Regulator has notified that the application process for issuance of permission for import of additional variant of approved cosmetics into the country, will henceforth be conducted through additional module which will be activated on the SUGAM portal from the 22nd February 2025.
Source: bit.ly/3CQu6m2

2. The National Chemists’ Association has sought a meeting with India’s drug price regulator the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to highlight concerns that the obligation on chemists to publicly display the prices of all drugs being sold, may be a very heavy burden for the industry.
Source: bit.ly/3QfYFor

3. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued show-cause notices to 97 private nursing homes and hospitals for violations of the Bombay Nursing Home Registration Act and Maharashtra Nursing Home Registration Rules. Key breaches include non-compliance with fire safety regulations, lack of patient complaint mechanisms, inadequate staffing, and failure to meet other legal standards like displaying contact information and maintaining proper treatment tariffs.
Source: bit.ly/41bya9P

4. In a recently published guideline, the United States Food and Drug Administration has expanded the applicability of Predetermined Change Control Plans (PCCPs) scheme, now requiring manufacturers to notify any post-market changes made to devices, which operate using Artificial Intelligence and not just those devices that use Machine Learning.
Source: bit.ly/4aZ3D2i

5. A Federal Court in the United States has recently dismissed the petition of a prominent drug manufacturer claiming “unfair business practices” by a pharmacy selling compounded versions of a patented drug, on the ground that the pharmacy has ceased to market and sell the compounded version of the drug.
Source: bit.ly/4aYtVSa

Posted on

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

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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.

1. India’s Central level drug regulator the Central Drugs Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued a correction to the list of Fixed Drug Combinations for which manufacturing licenses can be obtained directly from the state regulators. The updated list is available on the website of the CDSCO at the given link.
Source: bit.ly/4hnPvSI

2. India’s Nursing professional regulator, the Nursing Council of India has issued Regulations prescribing the institutional and educational standards required to conduct the Nurse Practitioner in Pediatric Nursing Program.
Source: bit.ly/40IkEsV

3. A district level Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has recently held that insurance providers cannot deny claims of policy-holders, on grounds of a medical issue arising out of “pre-existing conditions” if the “pre-existing conditions” is not the sole cause of the medical condition for which claim as made.
Source: bit.ly/3Q7gbLs

4. India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently notified the updated grievance redressal system, and new physical verification procedure for empanelled hospitals aimed at improving service offering under the government’s public healthcare scheme.
Source: bit.ly/3WMQbc7

5. Industry groups make a representation to the European Policymakers to withdraw its recent AI Public Liability Directive protocol which sought to introduce non-contractual civil liability rules to artificial intelligence used by service providers, claiming that the non-contractual nature of the civil liability will disrupt existing supply-chains based on contractual understanding between service providers and receivers.
Source: bit.ly/4hK9sTp
Source: bit.ly/4hKflzQ

Posted on

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 Karnataka health department has become the first state to implement the Supreme Court’s 2023 directive on a patient’s right to die with dignity. The government issued an order appointing medical experts to a secondary medical board to determine when life-sustaining treatment can be halted for terminally ill patients.
Source: bit.ly/3CEYPlX

2. Central government of India has published amended Water Pollution Guidelines to streamline the process of obtaining consent for industrial plants that may cause water pollution with an aim to simplify compliance and enhance ease of doing business for industries. The guidelines outline procedures for obtaining, renewing, and potentially losing consent to establish or operate such plants. These guidelines exempt certain category of project from obtaining the clearances. It also states that the projects that required the Environmental Clearance (EC) as per Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 are exempted from obtaining the Consent to Establish (CTE) separately.
Source: bit.ly/3WOVyaK

3. India’s National Medical Commission (NMC) thereby upholding the patients’ rights is considering to authorize the patients to appeal against the orders of State Medical Commission (SMC). Earlier, only doctors were authorized to file an appeal against the decision of SMC.
Source: bit.ly/4grUoZq

4. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) are working together to improve the accuracy of In-Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) tests in India. They have released a draft manual for Standard Performance Evaluation Protocols, inviting stakeholder comments. These protocols outline methods for evaluating the performance of IVDs used to diagnose diseases like Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika. After the consultation period, ICMR and CDSCO will review the feedback and finalize the protocols for official adoption.
Source: bit.ly/3QhIAyF

5. Major drug manufacturer in India has received approval from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to import and market tislelizumab injection, a cancer treatment drug. SEC waived the local clinical trial requirement under certain conditions, recognizing the drug as an orphan drug for an unmet medical need in India. Noting its approval in the USA, Europe, UK, Australia, China, and other countries, the committee also advised the company to submit safety and efficacy data for Indian patients, ensuring patient rights are considered.
Source: bit.ly/4hHyKSi

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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.

1. India’s Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that rape survivors can undergo medical termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks without requiring a court order. For pregnancies up to 20 weeks, a registered medical practitioner can perform the termination. This decision aims to streamline the process for survivors, reducing delays in accessing abortion services.
Source: bit.ly/4gkA5xi

2. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) have released a draft standard evaluation protocol for the performance evaluation of Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) real-time PCR kits. This protocol provides detailed procedures for testing, including preparation of hMPV RNA evaluation panels, RNA extraction, and guidelines for real-time PCR systems. It aims to ensure the quality and reliability of diagnostic kits for hMPV. Public comments are invited till March 15, 2025.
Source: bit.ly/3WGUcOW

3. India’s Andhra Pradesh Medical Council (APMC) has reportedly announced that permanent registrations for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) will be granted only to those who comply with the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines. This includes verification of degrees through the respective Indian Embassies and additional internship requirements. A group of 25 FMGs has filed a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court regarding this matter.
Source: bit.ly/3WEXdzv

4. Representatives from several pharmaceutical industry groups are scheduled to meet with officials from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). The agenda includes discussions on the implementation of Schedule M, which sets quality standards and good manufacturing practices for pharmaceutical companies. Industry representatives, particularly from MSME pharma manufacturers, are expected to request an extension of the implementation timelines for the revised Schedule M.
Source: bit.ly/3WJDVZU

5. The US FDA has identified cybersecurity vulnerabilities in certain patient monitors used in healthcare and home settings. These monitors display critical patient information such as temperature, heartbeat, and blood pressure. The FDA warns that these vulnerabilities could allow unauthorized individuals to access and potentially manipulate the monitors, leading to improper functioning. Additionally, connected networks may be compromised, and sensitive patient data, including personally identifiable and protected health information.
Source: bit.ly/3X53S6r

Posted on

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 central drug regulator (CDSCO) has called for urgent input from the pharmaceutical industry on regulatory challenges and opportunities for innovation. Stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, including companies, researchers, and healthcare providers, are invited to share obstacles to drug approval, difficulties in meeting compliance requirements, and barriers to entering new markets and are encouraged to reach out to CDSCO through its official communication channels.
Source: bit.ly/3PNEUnW

2. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed a draft regulation that grants a one-year senior residency exemption to doctors with foreign postgraduate medical qualifications from five English-speaking countries (United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) to join medical colleges as faculty.
Source: bit.ly/4hlIQZn

3. The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the National Health Mission (NHM) for another five years, until 2030, which was scheduled to end in 2025. This decision comes after the NHM achieved significant milestones in the past decade, improving healthcare access and quality in India.
Source: bit.ly/4h2YEzV

4. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has asked pharmaceutical companies and marketing companies of Iohexol, a diagnostic agent to submit price and market data. This action follows a directive from the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) to review the drug’s pricing.
Source: bit.ly/4h9DqR4

5. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a nasal spray as a monotherapy for the treatment of adults with treatment-resistant depression. This marks a significant advancement in mental health treatment, as the nasal spray is the first and only medication approved for this purpose.
Source: bit.ly/40G1bdv

Posted on

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 Rajasthan High Court (RHC) recently ruled that “a laboratory report can be countersigned only by a registered medical practitioner with a post-graduate qualification in pathology.” The court made this observation while hearing a petition that sought to restrict non-MBBS practitioners from signing medical laboratory reports.
Source: bit.ly/3WnKfWx

2. India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) recently issued a letter to the Principal Commissioner of Customs, stating that the import of pre-owned, refurbished, or second-hand medical devices into the country is prohibited. CDSCO clarified that, as of now, there are no specific provisions in place for the regulation of such devices, and therefore, customs authorities have been directed to halt the importation of these items.
Source: bit.ly/3Ce6F5S

3. The Government of India has revised the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, to designate the Department of Health Research (DHR) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) as the authority responsible for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) matters. This change underscores DHR’s role, which already oversees Health Technology Assessment India (HTAIn), in evaluating the appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of both existing and new health technologies in the country as part of its “Research Governance” mandate.
Source: bit.ly/40hgGax

4. The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has updated the number of blocked pharmacists on its DIGI-PHARMed portal, increasing the list from 45,355 to 91,586. Affected pharmacists are required to re-register for re-verification. This action addresses issues with duplicate, invalid, or incorrect profiles on the platform, which supports pharmacy education by providing centralized services nationwide.
Source: bit.ly/42cCXc5

5. The World Health Organization has released a draft document to guide the adoption of continuous manufacturing (CM). This document covers finished products, as well as excipients and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) produced through a CM process. The WHO is inviting feedback from stakeholders via its online platform, with comments due by 7 March 2025.
Source: bit.ly/42dNWSD

Posted on

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 Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued an updated draft list for the risk-based classification of medical devices. The new entries in the list include categories such as interventional radiology, radiotherapy, oncology, and Class A (non-sterile and non-measuring) devices. Stakeholders are required to submit their feedback within 30 days of the draft’s publication.
Source: bit.ly/422UCmg

2. India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a draft notification proposing an extension for small and medium manufacturers with an annual turnover of ₹250 crores or less to comply with the revised Schedule M of the Drugs Rules, 1945. Manufacturers eligible for this extension must submit an upgradation plan in Form A to the central licensing authority within three months. The proposed deadline for compliance is December 31, 2025. The Ministry has also invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders, which must be submitted within seven days of the notification’s publication.
Source: bit.ly/40mUugc

3. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released draft guidance on using artificial intelligence (AI) to support regulatory decisions regarding the safety, effectiveness, or quality of drugs and biological products. This guidance proposes a framework to enhance the credibility of AI models in product submissions. The FDA invites public comments on the draft within 90 days.
Source: bit.ly/4fKHeXf

4. India’s new draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules 2025 require companies transferring personal data of Indian users across international borders to comply with data localization norms. These provisions, which impose additional government restrictions on specific data transfers, are reportedly expected to complicate business operations.
Source: bit.ly/41ZXocd

5. The U.S. District Court recently dismissed negligence and strict liability claims against a non-profit that received an NIH grant and sub-granted part of it to a Wuhan lab allegedly linked to COVID-19. The court found no liability for contributing funding for research activities or basis for strict liability, emphasizing the weak causal connection and the risks of imposing unlimited liability on research funders.”
Source: bit.ly/4gJaS0v

Posted on

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 Indian government has extended the deadline for small and medium pharmaceutical companies to comply with the revised Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) under Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The revised deadline is December 31, 2025, while the earlier deadline was January 1, 2025. This extension aims to assist smaller manufacturers in upgrading their facilities to meet stringent regulatory requirements.
Source: bit.ly/4a4HaAo

2. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have released draft standard evaluation protocols for licensing in-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017. These protocols aim to ensure quality and performance evaluation of IVDs, establishing uniformity in testing across various diagnostic kits. Stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback on the draft by February 15, 2025.
Source: bit.ly/40kTlWt

3. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released the draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, inviting public feedback until February 18, 2025. These rules aim to operationalize the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which was enacted to enhance the framework for protecting digital personal data in India. The draft includes provisions for data localization, compliance requirements for significant data fiduciaries, timelines for storing data and ensuring that personal data is processed responsibly.
Source: bit.ly/3C63oFx

4. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative to democratize digital commerce in India by fostering open networks for the exchange of goods and services. This initiative focuses on inclusivity, enabling small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to access digital marketplaces while promoting innovation through open protocols. By creating a level playing field, ONDC seeks to reduce the dominance of large e-commerce platforms and enhance competition among sellers.
Source: bit.ly/4gHo1al

5. The Telangana Medical Council has issued a show-cause notice to a Hyderabad-based hospital for allegedly collaborating with unqualified practitioners and promoting fake doctors. This action follows the hospital’s involvement in sponsoring the medical program and advertising the same on social media, where unqualified individuals were reportedly encouraged. The hospital has been given a 10-day deadline to respond; failure to do so may result in punitive actions under the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act and other regulations.
Source: bit.ly/3BWAQhM