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 has amended the Companies (Specification of Definition Details) Rules, 2014, revising the financial criteria for “small companies.” The updated norms increase the paid-up capital limit to INR 10 crore and turnover limit to INR 100 crore. The change, effective immediately, expands eligibility for compliance relaxations particularly benefiting many mid-sized pharma entities by reducing regulatory burden and easing governance requirements.
Source: h7.cl/1ko76

2. The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has deferred approval for a leading manufacturer’s RSV vaccine. The SEC has requested the complete Phase III study data, including six-month safety results for adults aged 60 and above, before considering new drug approval.
Source: h7.cl/1fxf9

3. Telangana’s Drugs Control Administration has reportedly urged citizens to verify medical shop licences through its Online Drug Licensing System’s Third-Party Verification tool. The initiative follows a raid in Khammam that seized medicine varieties from an unlicensed outlet, reinforcing the state’s focus on public safety and regulatory compliance.
Source: h7.cl/1fxfe

4. The World Health Organization has issued its first guideline on using Glucagon Like Peptide One therapies for long term obesity treatment. The guidance provides conditional recommendations due to limited evidence and high costs, stressing fair access and comprehensive care alongside healthier environments and early interventions for all.
Source: h7.cl/1ko7n

5. The Department of Telecommunications has reportedly directed smartphone manufacturers to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity application on all new devices and update existing phones. The mandatory, non-removable app enables reporting of fraud and tracing stolen phones, reflecting the government’s push to strengthen digital security through nationwide efforts.
Source: h7.cl/1fxfm

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 Revised Schedule M of the Drugs Rules, 1945 which has come into force on the 28th December 2023, is now fully applicable to all manufacturers with turnover less than Rs. 250 Crores starting from 1st January 2025.
Source: bit.ly/4iZXAOt

2. India’s Central Drug Regulator has directed that the process to file applications for (1) addition of new Clinical Trial Site and (2) Change of Principal Investigator should henceforth be made online through the SUGAM Portal maintained by the regulator. An application for addition of clinical trial site is deemed approved if no objection received in 30 days of upload and an application for change of Principal investigator is deemed approved on the day of upload.
Source: bit.ly/4j1Kwbp

3. In order to curb instances of re-use and re-branding of expired food products by businesses India’s Central Food Regulator is now requiring all licensed Food Business Operators to upload the following data to the online portal on a quarterly basis once feature is activated:

a.  Quantity of food items rejected due to not meeting quality standards.
b. Quantity of expired food items returned by the business.
c. A detailed report of how the expired/ rejected food items were handled, including manner of disposal/ return/ destruction.

Provided that all licensed business should commence record-keeping in preparation of activation of upload feature on FoSCoS portal.
Source: bit.ly/3PjW8sP

4. The Delhi High Court recently held that a claim for medical negligence cannot be sustained on the basis that the patient had a certain expectation with respect to the quality of care, holding that no evidence was forthcoming that the Doctor’s conduct lead to harm to the patient.
Source: bit.ly/49YPn9m

5. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011 have been amended, permitting associations to carry-forward the unspent administrative expenses into the next financial year, provided that reason for carry-over needs to be mentioned in Form FC-4.
Source: bit.ly/4gOxvAo