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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 Indian government has barred medical representatives from meeting doctors in central government hospitals to curb unethical practices. Instead of in-person visits, pharmaceutical companies are now encouraged to communicate updates to doctors through digital channels such as email.
Source: bit.ly/4ksiiaj

2. Health Ministry of India is reportedly set to implement mandatory Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) to improve the screening of imported blood products to enhance transfusion safety. NAT detects infections like HIV and Hepatitis B during the early “window period,” reducing transmission risks.
Source: bit.ly/43NZxqI

3. The Karnataka government has amended the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21 years. The amendments also ban hookah bars statewide and increase fines for use of tobacco products in public.
Source: bit.ly/43E0rpC

4. Several corporate maternity hospitals in Hyderabad are reportedly under review for charging extra fees for ‘muhurat’ (auspicious time) deliveries, often conducted through scheduled C-sections, raising ethical and regulatory concerns.
Source: bit.ly/3ZNxjuK

5. Indian Council of Medical Research survey reveals over 40% of sub-district public hospitals in 7 states lack basic diabetes and hypertension medicines. Many also do not have essential diagnostic tools, exposing critical gaps in rural healthcare for managing common non-communicable diseases.
Source: bit.ly/4kjtINm

Posted on

TOP 5 HEALTH LAWS AND POLICY UPDATES

The new criminal code, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and introduced stricter penalties for medical negligence. Registered Medical Practitioners can now face up to two years in jail and fines for medical negligence. The new law will apply from July 1, 2024.
Source: bit.ly/3RXnx5t

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has extended the last date of filing of annual returns by the registered producers, importers, brand owners (PIBOs) and plastic waste processors for FY 2022-24 and FY 2023-24 respectively till September 2024. The earlier timeline to file the annual returns were June 30, 2024 and April 30, 2024 respectively.
Source: bit.ly/3XQtxAY

In an effort to decrease reliance on imports and to promote domestic production of medical devices, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) reportedly intends to launch a new program that will provide shared facilities for medical device parks or clusters that are formed with the exclusive financial assistance of the state governments.
Source: bit.ly/3xU6b2u

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating an alleged nationwide network of contraband dealers and has placed several pharmaceutical companies under scrutiny who are engaged in the production of drugs and opioids as a measure to prevent the creation of illicit distribution networks through fraudulent sale and supply bills.
Source: bit.ly/3VNzoEw

The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has published a draft guidance that removes the requirement of undertaking switching studies for applicants undertaking an approval for treating Biosimilars as interchangeable. The USFDA has now made switching studies optional for biosimilar approvals. Hence, persons applying for approval for Biosimilars may now use computer modelling based on the current acceptable analytical technologies to demonstrate the Biosimilars as interchangeable.
Source: bit.ly/4eQUudy