Posted on

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS & 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.

India’s Competition Watchdog gets new powers to issue interim orders to stop potentially infringing action, until case is finally decided
The Indian Government has made Section 33 of The Competition Act, 2002 effective from 20th February 2024. The Section gives powers to Competition Commission of India (CCI) to prevent commission of any potentially anti-competitive action or combination, including mergers and acquisitions, until it reaches a final decision on the matter. This new power puts the CCI’s powers on par with that of other anti-trust regulators around the world.
Source: bit.ly/4bFlPhj

Under narcotics law, the weight of carrier articles used to carry narcotics cannot be included in calculation of weight of narcotics seized: High Court
India’s Delhi High Court has held that ‘carrier articles’ do not qualify as ‘neutral substances’ in which narcotics are mixed, and therefore their weight cannot be included in the calculation of the weight of the narcotics seized from the accused. The weight of contraband is a critical criteria in deciding whether the quantity of contraband seized from accused is of small quantity or commercial quantity, which has direct ramification on accused’s ability to get bail and ultimately on the tenure of imprisonment.
Source: bit.ly/4bD9OJv

India’s Insurance Regulator will increase scrutiny of health and savings plan aimed at elderly in a bid to keep a check on misselling
India’s insurance regulator, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), is proposing to introduce several checks in insurance products aimed at the elderly, including mandatory video verification before policy acceptance. There is also a proposal to restrict targets and incentives for insurance products sold to elderly through banks.
Source: bit.ly/4bFHWEr

Acute shortage of Doctors licensed to inspect workers in hazardous industries and food establishments reported in Maharashtra
Maharashtra’s labour department has reportedly not renewed licenses of many authorized certifying surgeons (ACS) for the past one and half years. The ACS are responsible for carrying out medical examination of workers in hazardous industries once in six months, and very hazardous industries once every month.
Source: bit.ly/3I7fm1c

Telemedicine abortions are safe and effective: Study.
A study published in Nature Medicine has confirmed that telemedicine abortions conducted after video call or text message consultations are safe and effective as in-person care. In India, medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) is not permitted except under direct supervision of a registered medical practitioner duly qualified to conduct MTP.
Source: bit.ly/3OPUNKB

Posted on

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS & 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.

Central Drug Regulator to have open-door meetings with Industry twice a week
In a first, perhaps anywhere in the world, India’s top officer in the Drug Regulator’s office, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), has announced that there will be walk-in meetings for the industry every Tuesday and Thursday between 5 and 6 pm, where industry can present its problems and suggestions directly before the officer. The move is aimed at improving Ease of Doing Business in India.
Source: bit.ly/48k9MmX

Waiting for Drug Price Regulator to fix retail prices of new drugs before they can be launched will adversely impact industry
An association of pharmaceutical manufacturers has reportedly submitted an appeal before the Drug Price Regulator, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), to recall its notice which directs drug manufacturers to delay launch of new drug until the retail prices of those products have been fixed and notified by NPPA. The association has submitted that notice will negatively impact drug manufacturers’ businesses and cause significant losses.
Source: bit.ly/48cUJvf

Regulatory Data Exclusivity on negotiation table between India and Europe during FTA talks
As per media reports, European Free Trade Association has demanded regulatory data exclusivity for drugs during the discussion on proposed Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement. If India accepts the demand, then Indian domestic drug manufacturers will not be able to rely on clinical trial data of innovator drug manufacturer for obtaining regulatory approvals in India, thereby impacting cost and timelines for generic drugs entry in Indian market.
Source: bit.ly/3T01NHe

Insurance Regulator has proposed to increase free-look time for insurance policies from 15 days to 1 month
As part of the recently published draft IRDAI (Protection of Policyholders’ Interests and Allied Matters of Insurers) Regulations, 2024, the Insurance Regulator (IRDAI) has proposed to increase the free-look time for insurance policies from 15 days to 1 month. The free-look time is the time by which a policy holder of an insurance policy can cancel an insurance policy after purchasing it without liability to him.
Source: bit.ly/3T1PcDr

New York City has sued major social media companies for affecting mental health of youth and children
The New York City Mayor has announced that his administration has sued major social media companies on ground that they have intentionally designed platforms to purposefully manipulate and addict children and teens to social media applications.
Source: bit.ly/3OLyZPY