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. Maharashtra Health Minister has reportedly announced reforms for increased hospital safety such as independent third-party testing of medicines supplied to state hospitals. Other proposed reforms include stricter oversight on medicine procurement, manpower increase in Maharashtra Medical Goods Procurement Agency (MMGPA) and enhanced enforcement of the Bombay Nursing Act. Plans for regulating private labs, flying squads for inspections, and public hospital makeovers with standardised designs were also announced.
Source: bit.ly/3DE8QQy

2. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued show cause notices under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) for failing to meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. Non-compliance includes not filing annual returns for FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24 and falling short of EPR targets. Affected entities must respond within 7 days or face Environmental Compensation (EC) penalties and stricter enforcement measures.
Source: bit.ly/3W3Deua

3. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released the draft second edition of the National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL), inviting stakeholder suggestions by January 15, 2025. The revised list aims to enhance diagnostic services across all healthcare levels, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs) with a focus on underserved areas. It aligns with national health programmes and incorporates technological advancements like point-of-care testing to ensure accessibility and affordability.
Source: bit.ly/4059Qor

4. The Indian Government (Ministry of Textiles) has issued the Medical Textile (Quality Control) Amendment Order 2025. This amendment states that if the manufacturer / importer certified by the Bureau or any manufacturer / importer who has applied for certification has declared its old stock products  which are without BIS  Mark manufactured or imported before the commencement of the timeline of implementation (mentioned below) of the order, such manufacturer / importer shall be permitted to sell or display to offer to sell such declared stock up to 30th June, 2025. The key timelines are as follows: For Large and Medium Enterprises: 1st January, 2025 ; For Small and Micro Enterprises: 1st April, 2025
Source: bit.ly/4fDZi5q

5. India’s Union Health Minister has banned the manufacturing and sale of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) drug nimesulide for animal use due to its toxicity to vultures, causing mortality through visceral gout and renal failure. The ban follows recommendations by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and studies by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). Safer alternatives are available, and measures to prevent misuse of the drug in humans have been proposed.
Source: bit.ly/4fOz8Nk

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 pollution regulator has issued a Notification extending the deadline to 31st December 2024, for submitting quarterly filings for the FY 2023-24 for all entities registered under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2022.
Source: bit.ly/49ahqlK

2. A District Consumer forum in the State of Maharashtra has held that the refusal of returns by a e-commerce service provider, under a blanket “no-returns” policy constituted a “unfair trade practice” and awarded compensation to consumer whose return of sub-standard product had been rejected.
Source: bit.ly/417xJxQ

3. In a recently published response to a query received by it under the Right to Information Act, 2005, the Delhi Medical Council clarified that, since only medical practitioners registered with the council and having recognized qualifications in Allopathic medicine are permitted to practice medicine in Delhi: Dentists, who are registered with the Dental Council are not licensed to perform aesthetic and cosmetic treatment which is not medically necessary.
Source: bit.ly/3ZbT0Ur

4. After considerable negotiation, India has signed the final act of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty which aims to establish protections for Industrial Design patents, the treaty specifies procedural guardrails which member states can adopt into their own local design patent protection regulations.
Source: bit.ly/3CXRxcH
Source: bit.ly/4f5AYJz

5. The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear petition by manufacturers of tobacco products, challenging the decision of the Federal Government of the United States to include graphic visual warnings on cigarette packets.
Source: bit.ly/415u1EU