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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. All medical practitioners (doctors) who practice modern medicine will have to mandatorily register on the new National Medical Register established by the National Medical Commission.
Source: bit.ly/3YYlPoE

2. The Indian Government is reportedly considering to ban 34 multivitamin drugs.
Source: bit.ly/4e0490u

3. The Indian Government is planning to publish a new policy for promoting bio-technology sector called BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy.
Source: bit.ly/3MiPNfw

4. A leading e-commerce giant has set up rest areas facility for its delivery partners in India. The rest area will have facilities like air conditioning, seating areas, drinking water, and mobile charging stations as a measure to provide them better working conditions.
Source: bit.ly/3MkPYHl

5. Amid rising cases of mpox globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reportedly relaxed the rules for its health partners to hold commercial discussions on mpox vaccines. It has also declared that partners like GAVI and UNICEF can begin purchasing mpox vaccines before WHO approves them.
Source:  bit.ly/3Z0RWV0

Posted on

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

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.

1. India’s Environment Ministry has proposed to introduce extended producers responsibility for scrap of non-ferrous metals by way of amendment to Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Second Amendment Rules, 2016.
Source: bit.ly/4fQHG7E

2. The deadline for declaration and registration of exotic animal species in possession of various individuals, organizations, zoos, etc is 28th August 2024. The registration of these exotic animal species is to be done in the PARIVESH 2.0 portal.
Source: bit.ly/3XaaXTA

3. India’s apex telecom regulator, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (“TRAI”) has issued directions to curb misuse of messaging services and protect consumers from fraudulent practices. TRAI has mandated that the messages containing URLs/ APKs/ OTT links/ Call back numbers, which are not whitelisted will not be sent with effect from 1st September 2024.
Source: bit.ly/3Xeorhb

4. A Texas Court has stayed the operation of ban on non-compete agreements stating that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lacks the authority to ban non-compete agreements which was supposed to go into effect 4th September 2024.
Source: bit.ly/3SYlZsy

5. The Supreme Court of India, while observing the working conditions of doctors and healthcare professionals and their susceptibility to violence, has constituted a ten (10) member task force to formulate a national framework (protocol) for ensuring their safety and facilities. The task force will submit its interim report within three (3) weeks and final report within two (2) months.
Source: bit.ly/4cHpv1C

Posted on

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

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.

1. India’s Health Minister has reportedly confirmed that Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) will be the sole regulator of veterinary medicines in India and there is no proposals to establish a separate regulatory body for veterinary medicines in India.
Source: bit.ly/4cbgTQe

2. India’s Food regulator (FSSAI) has warned against use of unapproved non-specified ingredients, such as “Deionized apple juice concentrate,” in fruit juices.
Source: bit.ly/46swOZq

3. The State Drug Regulator (FDA) of Maharashtra is reportedly going to start an inspection drive to identify doctors and hospitals which are running an open shop for medicines without holding a valid pharmacy license.
Source: bit.ly/46rtHAZ

4. The Principal Bench and State Benches of Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSAT) have been established with effect from 1st September 2023.
Source: bit.ly/3A86tDM

5. The US Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) has warned a pharmaceutical company for sponsoring a celebrity paid promotion campaign on social media, in which the influencer promoted a drug but did not disclose essential risk information. The FDA found the post to be misleading.
Source: bit.ly/46rtI81

Posted on

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

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.

1. A Missouri State Court has directed a multinational healthcare company to pay $495 million in damages over its specialised formula for premature infants which caused a girl to develop dangerous bowel disease. The Court ordered that the company did not warn doctors about infants receiving formula, having a greater risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) compared to infants who are breast-fed or given donor milk or human milk-derived formula
Source: bit.ly/46rTKb1

2. India’s Karnataka State Assembly has brought in a new bill which penalises any person found guilty of causing “intentional insult” to a doctor directly, on social media or using unauthorised audio or video. The penalty includes a jail term up to three months or a fine of ten thousand rupees. Intentional insult includes use of words, figures or gestures with an intent to insult, humiliate, disgrace, annoy or abuse a medical service personnel.
Source: bit.ly/4d0momi

3. India’s Kerala High Court has ordered that the Kerala Medical Association (“KMA”) is liable to pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the supply of goods and services to its members. KMA contended that it does not need to pay GST as it is registered as “charitable association” but the High Court held that KMA is liable to pay GST as 90% of its activities are non-charitable.
Source: bit.ly/3WF5x2G

4. Multinational Pharmaceutical Companies have requested the Indian Government to keep the free access medicines, provided under Patient Assistance Programme (“PAP”), outside the scope of Trade Margin Rationalisation (“TMR”). According to Pharma companies, medicines are made accessible and affordable through PAP and bringing them under the purview of TMR will impact their price and patients will end up paying more.
Source: bit.ly/3ykeaGu

5. Indian Government has built a health claims gateway, National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), which aims to streamline and standardize health insurance claim processing, enhancing efficiency in the insurance industry. NHCX serves as a gateway for exchanging health claim information among insurers, third-party auditors, healthcare providers, beneficiaries, and other relevant entities and ensures interoperability, machine-readability, auditability, and verifiability, making the information exchange accurate and trustworthy.
Source: bit.ly/3WEmom2

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TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

1. India’s Consumer Affairs Ministry’s is proposing to amend labelling and packaging regulations for pre-packaged goods. Currently, certain large packages, like those exceeding 25 kilograms or liters, are exempt from displaying crucial information. This includes details like the maximum retail price (MRP), the date by which the product should ideally be consumed (best before date), who manufactured it, and where it came from (country of origin). Other exempt categories include cement, fertilizer, agricultural produce in 50 kg bags, and products destined for industrial or institutional use. The proposed amendment aims to close this loophole and ensure all these bulk packages are labelled clearly and consistently, just like retail products.
The proposed amendments are open for public consultation till 29th July 2024.
Source: bit.ly/4cZPiCG

2. Maharashtra state in India has reportedly announced a ban on sale of energy drinks with high caffeine content within 500-meter radius of schools. This directive aims to safeguard student health.
Source: bit.ly/467rxGj

3. India’s Karnataka Medical Council (“KMC”) has issued a show cause notice to a dermatologist alleging violation of Code of Medical Ethics, 2002 for advertising drugs/medicines on social media. The action on the part of KMC comes after it received a complaint from Indian Association of Dermatologist, Venerologists and Leprologists.
Source: bit.ly/3zLuAYY

4. India’s drugmakers are pushing the government to loosen price controls. They propose exempting all medicines under ₹5 and extending the exemption for patented drugs (currently 5 years) to 10 years. This comes amid rising costs for ingredients, prompting them to request a reduction in GST on these materials. The industry argues stricter controls stifle research and development.
Source: bit.ly/3S7oqIF

5. Indian Supreme Court has rejected Doctor’s plea for improved security, which is filed by a Delhi Medical Association. The apex court was hearing the DMA’s petition which also sought directions to the authorities to ensure adequate security at hospitals and medical centres to prevent attacks on doctors and healthcare workers by patients’ relatives and others. The Apex Court stated that currently laws exist to deal with such instances.
Source: bit.ly/3Ln9Fh9

Posted on

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

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.

Manufacturers of Ayurvedic Drugs cannot claim “Certified by” or “Approved by”: Ministry of AYUSH
India’s AYUSH Ministry has reportedly issued a warning to all ayurveda, siddha, unani and homeopathic drug makers, against the use of any misleading, unsubstantiated claims and false advertisements such as a green logo or false statements like “the product is approved or certified by the ministry”. The Ministry also clarified that it has no role in issuing manufacturing licences or approvals. This warning comes in the backdrop of a misleading advertisements case against a major Ayurvedic drugs and products manufacturer in the Supreme Court of India.
Source: bit.ly/3UF32fP

After Hong Kong, US Food Regulator is probing Indian spices due to reports of contamination
The US Food and Drug Administration has reportedly initiated a probe against two Indian spice manufacturers for their spice mixes which allegedly contain hazardous cancer-causing pesticides. The two manufacturers who are facing similar controversies in Hong Kong and Singapore have refuted the allegations. India’s spice regulator, the Spice Board of India, has taken cognizance of matter and is working closely with the two manufacturers to ascertain the root cause of such allegations.
Source: bit.ly/3UB8q3r

India extends the approval for use of drones for spraying approved pesticides till April 18, 2025
India’s Agriculture Ministry has extended its interim approval by one year, i.e., until April 18, 2025, for drone-based application of already approved pesticides formulations including insecticides, fungicides and plant growth regulators which were earlier permitted to be only sprayed manually by knapsack sprayers. The earlier approval was valid till April 18, 2024.
Source: bit.ly/4bf9MX7

Indian FMCG companies are reclassifying popular health drinks as functional nutritional drinks to comply with the recent government directions
Days after India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a directive to all e-commerce sites instructing not to list malt drink mixes and other similar products under the category of health drinks, Indian manufacturers have started reclassifying their products. A major manufacturer of food products has classified its malt drink mix as “Functional Nutritional Drink”. India’s food regulator had clarified earlier this month that there is no category called “health drink” under which it grants manufacturing license.
Source: bit.ly/4dbOpb7

India’s Madras High Court denies relief to doctors for violating bond conditions; directs them to undertake Bond Service in Government Medical College and Hospitals
India’s Madras High Court has upheld the validity of bond service conditions based on bond agreements signed by doctors. The instant case related to temporary appointment of three doctors to the post of Assistant Surgeon in compliance with bond agreement. The doctors claimed that they had served during COVID-19 pandemic period and urged their service be calculated basis two years of service as stipulated in the bond. The High Court stated that the period of COVID duty done by Medical Officers after completion of their PG courses alone will be treated as Bond Service and services rendered by the Postgraduates during their courses would be considered as study period only.
Source: bit.ly/44opFYX

 

Posted on

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

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.

Guidance for making regulatory applications for biological and biotechnology products such vaccines may be revised soon
India’s central drug regulator, Central Drugs Standards Control Organization (CDSCO), has issued draft of revised guidance which seeks to align the online regulatory application process with applicable law i.e. The New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019. Recently, the CDSCO has started accepting regulatory applications through NSWS portal. All stakeholders have time until April 25, 2024 to submit their suggestions/comments.
Source: bit.ly/3JlwIrU

Indian Pharma industry has sought clarity from Government on ethics of sponsoring foreign trips of doctors to attend scientific and training programs outside India.
An industry group representing multinational pharma companies has reportedly approached the Indian Government for seeking clarity on the issue of Indian doctors being sponsored by pharma companies for attending medical events outside India. A recent guidance issued by Department of Pharmaceuticals called Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices, 2024 (UCPMP) has stated that pharma companies will not sponsor travel and hospitality of Doctors unless they are speaking in medical events.
Source: bit.ly/3JklqnG

New Guidance document for generation and transfer of EPR Certificate under E-Waste Management Rules issued
India’s Central Pollution Control Board has issued a guidance document which explains steps to be taken by recyclers, recycling facilities under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 for generation of EPR Certificate. It has been clarified that EPR Certificate will have validity of 2 years. All importers and manufacturers of electric and electronic equipment including medical devices are required to procure EPR Certificates from registered recyclers to discharge their respective Extended Producer Responsibility obligations.
Source: bit.ly/44242Oc

Nestle wins class action suit filed by Government in the infamous Maggie Noodles case
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has dismissed the Indian government’s 2015 complaint against Nestlé India over the safety of its Maggi noodle products. The Indian government had accused Nestlé of engaging in unfair trade practices by adding a ‘No added MSG’ label and claimed that the instant noodle product contained impermissible lead levels. However, NCDRC has noted in its order that the lead content in the tested instant noodle products was within permissible limits and that the Food Regulator itself had permitted brands to carry No Added MSG label if MSG was not deliberately added by manufacturer during the manufacturing process.
Source: bit.ly/3vIR1MJ

US based telehealth companies penalised for selling personal information
The United States Federal Trade Commission has reportedly taken action against an alcohol addiction telehealth company, for sharing health information to third parties including some major social media companies and search engines. A proposed order to settle the allegations will prevent the company from disclosing sensitive data for advertising purposes, among other penalties.
Source: bit.ly/43ZfoCi