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 AYUSH has proposed an amendment to the First Schedule of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, expanding the list of authoritative books for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani Tibb drugs. The updated list now includes more vernacular books with details such as the author’s name and language. These drugs must be manufactured according to the formulae described in the books listed in the First Schedule, as defined by the Act.
Source: bit.ly/40UqMhL
2. The Ministry of AYUSH has proposed an amendment to update the list of poisonous substances in Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Unani systems under Schedule E(I) of the Drugs Rules, 1945. The draft amendment has been published for public awareness, with a 30-day period for objections or suggestions. The amendment categorizes the poisonous substances by their botanical names and includes the drugs in the respective systems of medicine that are prepared using these substances.
Source: bit.ly/3QdJ6NP
3. India’s drug pricing regulator has directed all retailers and dealers, including online pharmacies, to display the current price list of medicines on their websites. This move aims to empower consumers and ensure they are not overpaying for their medications.
Source: bit.ly/41bnhEY
4. India’s Odisha Registered Pharmacists Association (ORPhA) has expressed disagreement to government’s classification of pharmacists as paramedics, despite the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) stating they are independent healthcare professionals. The association has urged the health minister to take steps to avoid the classification, highlighting that pharmacists are specialized healthcare professionals who play a vital role in patient care through their expertise in areas like pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, and medication therapy management.
Source: bit.ly/3EtSniq
5. India’s central government has imposed a ban on the export of raw human hair valued at less than $65 per kilogram, as per a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The notification stated that the export policy for raw human hair has been changed from “restricted” to “prohibited.” However, exports will still be permitted without restrictions if the Free on Board (FOB) value is $65 or more per kilogram.
Source: bit.ly/4gBVKAU