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

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 apex consumer court, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), has discharged a Kerala hospital and its doctor from allegations of negligence in an IVF case. The complainants had claimed that procedural lapses led to the failure of the treatment, but the commission found no evidence to support these claims and dismissed the charges.
Source: bit.ly/4fqZkxk

2. The Madhya Pradesh Medical Council reportedly proposes to introduce a system for renewing the doctor’s registration every five years. This will help track how many doctors are still in the state, how many have moved abroad, and how many passed away. The said measure aims to keep the medical registry updated and to ensure compliance with current medical standards.
Source: bit.ly/3ZU6XHX

3. The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Medical Council to ensure that patients can access doctor’s qualifications and mandated the public display of credentials. This decision addresses rising concerns about unqualified practitioners and delays in the verification process, aiming to enhance transparency and patient safety in healthcare.
Source: bit.ly/3VFWc9Q

4. India’s central food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has released an updated list of recognized food testing laboratories, detailing their NABL accreditation validity as of December 12, 2024. These laboratories are authorized to analyze food samples under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The list includes validity details and contact information for laboratories in the Northern Region, with recognition guidelines governed by FSSAI’s directives.
Source: bit.ly/3ZREIK5

5. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released a draft of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2024, to address unmanaged solid waste. The draft rules, published on December 9, 2024, will require compliance from various waste generators, including hotels and institutions, and will come into effect on October 1, 2025. The public is invited to submit objections or suggestions regarding the proposed rules by February 7, 2025.
Source: bit.ly/4fgKzw