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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 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

Posted on

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 Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) has approved a proposal to amend the New Drugs and Clinical Trials (ND&CT) Rules, 2019 to eliminate the two-step certificate issuance process for biomedical and health research ethics committee registration. Now, a system for reviewing and examining all ethics committee documents has been put in place at Department of Health Research (DHR). This process allows for the removal of redundant work and resource use, and only final certificates can be directly issued to ethics committees.
Source: bit.ly/3A8haGQ

2. To improve India’s whole digital healthcare infrastructure, a new certification program for hospital information systems (HIS) and electronic medical records (EMR) has been introduced by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH). The program offers Basic and Advanced maturity levels that are valid for two years. The NABH portal will open for registration on December 1, 2024.
Source: bit.ly/3UjzcN7

3. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) plans to amend the Medical Devices Rules, 2017, to include quality control provisions for non-sterile, non-invasive Class A medical devices like thermometers and stethoscopes. Currently exempt from licensing, these devices will now require manufacturers to comply with a quality management system.
Source: bit.ly/3NApDpw

4. The Madras High Court has ruled that Siddha practitioners are permitted to practice modern medicine but are prohibited from storing allopathic drugs without a valid license under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Source: bit.ly/4hs9VKT

5. The World Health Organization (WHO) has prepared a draft guideline for food packaging to include health impact labels on the front, emphasizing the need for clearer consumer information regarding potential health risks associated with food contact materials. The draft received public comments till October 11, 2024 and will release the final guidelines in 2025.
Source: bit.ly/3BQlKKm