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 Madras High Court has refused to impose a ban on advertisements by doctors and hospitals in the media, stating that it cannot expect media outlets to verify every advertisement on fake drugs, hospitals and treatments. The court acknowledged concerns about misleading advertisements and stated that doctors and hospitals should have self-regularisation and in case of violation the Medical Commission should take action.
Source: bit.ly/3CzfDu4
2. The Supreme Court of India raised serious concerns about live surgery broadcasts, citing risks to patient safety and informed consent. The court noted the absence of officials from the National Medical Commission and the Central Government during a hearing, emphasizing the need for guidelines to regulate such practices effectively.
Source: bit.ly/4fyc8CM3.

3. The Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Jagat Prakash Nadda, has launched a new initiative called the “Scheme for Strengthening the Medical Device Industry,” to enhance manufacturing, skill development, clinical studies, and infrastructure in the medical device sector. It includes five sub-schemes designed to reduce import dependence and promote domestic production, ultimately supporting India’s goal of self-reliance in healthcare.
Source: bit.ly/4fjICRq

4. The Supreme Court of India has ordered the government to enforce mandatory accessibility rules under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016 emphasizing the need for compliance to ensure public spaces are accessible for disabled individuals. The court has given the government three months to establish clear guidelines and penalties for non-compliance.
Source: bit.ly/3UNULWl

5. Reportedly, government entities in India are exempt from the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, which permits them to process personal data under specific circumstances without following the Act’s normal provisions. Hospitals, however, are not granted this exemption and must therefore abide with data privacy regulations.
Source: bit.ly/3CkdRwZ

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 Union AYUSH Ministry has prohibited to advertise Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy drugs with claims of “miraculous or supernatural effects” in order to prevent misleading advertisements with unverified claims. The ministry instructed that such drugs should contain a caution to be taken under medical supervision on its label. Additionally, the ministry issued a public notice clarifying that it does not certify, grants license or approves any company for making ayurvedic drugs.
Source: bit.ly/4eXXjsL
2. India’s central drug regulator (CDSCO) is actively investigating social media influencers who promote false claims, quick fixes and misleading medical content.
Source: bit.ly/4eGfqDC 

3. The Pune division of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken action against three drug firms for violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. The firms were found selling Ayurvedic medicines with misleading claims to cure diabetes, arthritis, and kidney ailments, leading to the seizure of products.
Source: bit.ly/3XUC5Fe

4. The Delhi High Court ruled that a mere fraction of a cause of action occurring in a jurisdiction is insufficient to invoke the court’s territorial jurisdiction. The decision of the court said that in order to raise the territorial jurisdiction of a specific court, there must be a significant link of the matter to the specified territory, reinforcing the standards for filing cases in the court.
Source: bit.ly/3ZXxPr1

5. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in UK has unveiled its 2024/25 business plan, which prioritizes enhancing access to innovative healthcare technologies while optimizing service delivery. Key initiatives of the plan include the implementation of new IT systems and a commitment to public engagement and diversity in regulatory processes, aimed at reinforcing the UK’s position in life sciences and improving pandemic preparedness.
Source: bit.ly/3BES5Ux

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.

Supreme Court of India pulls up State Licensing Authority for failing to take action against misleading advertisements by leading ayurvedic manufacturer
India’s Central Ayush Ministry recently filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court of India to explain the steps it has taken against a leading manufacturer of Ayurvedic products after receiving several complaints against the manufacturer for making false and derogatory claims against modern medicine. The affidavit states that no action has been taken in the past two years by the State Licensing Authority, despite several orders from the Supreme Court, Right to Information (RTI’s), and directives from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The Supreme Court has now asked the State Licensing Authority to issue its reply.
Source: bit.ly/4aDTxmc

Relaxation of penalties for certain offences involving drugs, medical devices and cosmetics to take effect from December 31, 2024
The Indian Government has decided to relax the penalties for offences relating to drugs, medical devices and cosmetics that are of the nature of violation of conditions of license or failure to label in the prescribed manner. These offences typically invited punishment of imprisonment and fine, but may now be compounded by the payment of a penalty both before or after institution of prosecution. The decision was notified under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023. The Government has now notified the date of coming into effect of the relaxation as December 31, 2024.
Source: bit.ly/3U0yhS4
Source: bit.ly/3THGUjd

Major technology company admits to collecting information from private browsing, agrees to destroy data as part of the settlement
A major technology company, known for operating a popular internet search engine, has agreed to destroy billions of data records to settle a lawsuit. The suit claimed that the search engine company was secretly tracking the internet use of people who thought that they were browsing privately. Under the settlement, the search engine will update disclosures about what it collects in “private” browsing and will also let the users block third party cookies for five years.
Source: bit.ly/3vIwHL9

Industry demands that US FDA should give prior notice before conducting remote regulatory assessments
The US Food and Drug Administration’s (USFDA’s) revised guidance for conducting remote regulatory assessments (RRAs) has received comments from the industry. A clear demand from the industry is that the US FDA should provide advance notice for mandatory assessments and discuss observations before taking any regulatory action.
Source: bit.ly/3xieXXJ

Written patient consent required for sensitive examinations on anesthetized patients in US
The United States Department of Health and Human Services has recently released a new guidance as per which hospitals have to mandatorily obtain written informed consent from anesthetized patients for breast, pelvic, prostate, and rectal exams performed on them for educational and training purposes. If hospitals do not obtain the explicit consent and violate the patient privacy rights, they may become ineligible for participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, as well as become liable for fines and investigations.
Source: bit.ly/3U1M8aX