Blog

1. Introduction: In telehealth, technology platforms aggregate healthcare professionals and services and facilitate interactions between these professionals, patients, and services. Many such platforms go beyond just being audio/video calling or messaging tools for doctors and patients. They offer services like (i) management of appointments; (ii) tools that aid diagnostics or remote monitoring of patients, orRead more

This post explores the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority’s powers of price control and monitoring on the Indian medical device industry against the backdrop of India’s drive towards an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat.’ Introduction: There are many barriers to affordable healthcare in India[1]. Several initiatives and mechanisms have been suggested over the years, to tackle this. One mechanismRead more

This post examines two unaddressed areas of the clinical investigation process under the Medical Device Rules, 2017. Introduction: India aims to be the pharmacy of the world.[1] To achieve this dream, it is important that drugs and medical devices “made-in-India” are trusted by regulators and users globally. A robust regulatory framework for evaluating and approvingRead more

This post describes the clinical investigation process under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017. Introduction: The Indian healthcare industry has risen to the challenge of providing affordable drugs domestically and internationally. India has earned the reputation of being the pharmacy of the developing world[1]. However, to extend this reputation for medical devices, Indian regulators will needRead more

This post explores why participating in the NDHM Sandbox is a golden opportunity for the HealthTech industry. Introduction: The Government needs a robust technical infrastructure backing its goal to expand access to quality healthcare through the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM’). It needs technology solutions to create the various building blocks of the NDHM andRead more

The medical devices industry needs robust regulations. This article traces the evolution of medical devices regulation in India. Medical devices whether syringes and swabs, implantable devices, or technologically advanced solutions like software-driven devices, play a key role in the monitoring, prevention, and management of various diseases. A robust and dynamic regulatory system to oversee theRead more

This post traces the timeline of events leading to the formulation of e-pharmacy rules passed by the government of India and the current status of online sale of drugs. Introduction: E-pharmacies have played a prominent role during the Covid-19 pandemic. A FICCI white paper indicates a 2.5 times growth in the number of households usingRead more

Propelled by the Covid-19 crisis, the government recently released “telemedicine practice guidelines”. Tanya Sadana and Sreenidhi Srinivasan of Ikigai Law hosted a webinar to discuss the legal and practical challenges of telemedicine. They were joined by Dr. Guriqbal Singh Jaiya (co-author of Fundamentals of Telehealth and Telemedicine, 2019) and Dr Manuj Garg (co-founder of healthcareRead more

The Covid-19 crisis has brought up several challenges. With India under lockdown, one such challenge is ensuring people can consult doctors and access medicines with ease. This week, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare took two steps in this direction: (1) telemedicine guidelines recognising remote consultations; and (2) a notification allowing doorstep delivery ofRead more

The simplest of wearable fitness devices consist of a tiny accelerometer embedded deep within an integrated circuit board, wrapped in lithium polymer and encased in a polycarbonate case. Accelerometers can measure small changes in acceleration force and orientation, and can sense if it is in a horizontal or vertical position, and whether it is inRead more