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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. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has proposed to expand eligibility for fast-track mergers, covering more unlisted companies and subsidiaries of companies that are not wholly owned and foreign companies merging into Indian subsidiaries. Stakeholder comments are invited until May 5, 2025.
Source: bit.ly/42sNtuj

2. AI technology scanned prescriptions from MBBS doctors and found that the same expensive medicines for serious diseases were being given to all patients, exposing a scam in Rajasthan’s free treatment scheme through fake and unnecessary prescriptions. Investigations are now underway against the accused.
Source: bit.ly/4jnNiY0
Source: bit.ly/3YkV8ta

3. The Indian government is reportedly planning to revise norms on the use of high Global Warming Potential (GWP) gases, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), as refrigerants in refrigeration and air conditioning. This move aims to align with global environmental standards. The updated rules will require manufacturers to adopt alternative refrigerants and comply with new packaging and safety standards.
Source: bit.ly/4jmWrjo

4. The Madhya Pradesh Health Department has reportedly launched an investigation into unregistered physiotherapy clinics after concerns over registration violations were raised in the State Assembly. Despite 9,000 physiotherapists operating in the state, only 40 clinics are officially registered on the health portal.
Source: bit.ly/4coiMel

5. The government reportedly plans to bring online real-money gaming companies under anti-money laundering laws, requiring KYC, record-keeping, and reporting of suspicious transactions. This aims to curb unaccounted money but enforcing it on offshore platforms remains a major challenge.
Source: bit.ly/4iae19v

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.

Scientific works are not protected under India’s Copyright Law: High Court
India’s High Court of Andhra Pradesh has held that India’s copyright law only protects original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works. It does not protect scientific works, as covered under books of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology used by Students. The Court clarified that mathematical equations and science subjects do not qualify as ‘original works’ because they are the matter of fact and nature.
Source: bit.ly/432GSqc

All rare disease drugs imported into India will be exempted from requirement to pay customs duty: High Court
India’s Delhi High Court has issued an order exempting drugs and medicines used in therapy for rare diseases from requirement of payment of customs duty. Prior to the order, the exemptions from payment of customs duty was limited to drugs used for treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) or Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Earlier the Court had directed the National Rare Diseases Committee to hold deliberations with manufacturing and marketing companies to explore the possibility of procuring the medicines at a reasonable price.
Source: bit.ly/3T1H2JN

Flow of counterfeit products into Indian market to be checked through a new surveillance system
India’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs is planning to develop a new surveillance system to identify counterfeit products sold in the retail market. The Ministry proposes to collect samples soon after they enter the retail market and test them under new laboratories which will be set-up specifically for the purposes.
Source: bit.ly/3T5EKta

Online gaming guidelines to prevent compulsive gaming in India to be published
India’s Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) is planning to commission a research on the disruptive impulse control behavioural patterns of digital consumption that may cause vulnerabilities. The initial part of the research will be focused on online gaming addiction. The research would later be expanded to identify the underlying factors of excessive consumption of online content. The findings of the research would be used to provide policy inputs for framing of the Guidelines for protecting the interests of the consumers.
Source: bit.ly/3T1hXPb

US BioSecure Act to impact Indian biotechnology companies providing services or manufacturing products for US market
The BIOSECURE Act which has been introduced in the US House of Representatives prohibits US federal agencies from entering into contract with any entity that uses biotechnology equipment or services from a biotechnology company of concern to perform a federal contract. Some Chinese companies have been identified as biotechnology company of concern, and the list may be expanded to include companies from Russia, Iran and North Korea as well.
Source: bit.ly/3V5yQeq