Govt notifies new rules to ensure availability of medical

To remove regulatory bottlenecks and ensure availability of medical devices for patients, the Centre today notified new rules under which manufactures will not be required to renew licenses periodically and submission of applications and grant of licenses will be done online.
To bring in the "highest degree of professionalism" in regulation of medical devices, a system of 'Third Party Conformity Assessment and Certification' through notified bodies accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies has been envisaged under the new rules.
Notified by the Union Health Ministry, the rules also seek to evolve a culture of self-compliance by medical devices manufacturers and, accordingly, the manufacturing licences for Class A medical devices will be granted without prior audit of manufacturing site.

Under the new rules, for the first time there will be no requirement of periodic renewal of licences and manufacturing and import licences will remain valid till these are suspended, cancelled or surrendered.
Further, the entire process, starting from submission of application to grant of licence will be processed online. Timelines have also been defined for most activities at the regulators end.
The new rules have been framed in conformity with Global Harmonisation Task Force (GHTF) framework and conform to best international practices.

At present only 15 categories of medical devices are regulated as drugs and to that extent, the current regulatory practices in India were not fully geared to meet the requirement of medical devices sector in the country.

"The new rules seek to remove regulatory bottlenecks to make in India, facilitate ease of doing business while ensuring availability of better medical devices for patients' care and safety," an official statement said.
Under the new rules, medical devices will be classified as per GHTF practice, based on associated risks, into Class A (low risk), Class B (low moderate risk), Class C (moderate high risk) and Class D (high risk).
The manufacturers of medical devices will be required to meet risk proportionate regulatory requirements that have been specified in the rules.
"With a view to bring in the highest degree of professionalism in regulation of medical devices, a system of 'Third Party Conformity Assessment and Certification' through Notified Bodies is envisaged. The Notified Bodies will be accredited by NABCB," the statement said.

"The NABCB will, before accrediting notified bodies, assess their competence in terms of required human resources and other requirements.
Under the new rules, the issuance of licences for Class A
medical devices on the basis of self-certification coupled with a system of checks and balances for ensuring compliance is a departure from the inspection based regulatory regime, the statement said.
Risk-based audit of manufacturing units will be carried out to assess compliance with standards and quality parameters and these rules also envisage creation of a robust eco-system for all stakeholders including innovators, manufacturers, providers, consumers, buyers and regulators.
"The Rules will provide a conducive environment for fostering India specific innovation and improving accessibility and affordability of medical devices across the globe by leveraging comparative cost advantage of manufacturing in India.

"The objective, transparent and predictable regulatory framework will boost the confidence of investors and as a consequence, the quality and range of products and services will improve and business burdens will be reduced," the statement said.
The new rules will also help in developing a quality standardisation framework in India at par with international standards.
"The implementation of these Rules will provide the assurance of the best quality, safety and performance of medical devices.
"These Rules coupled with other measures, taken by the government in the recent past, are expected to sharpen the competitive edge and provide incentives to firms to become more efficient, innovative, and competitive. All this will support entrepreneurship, market entry and economic growth that, in turn, would produce high-paying, high-quality jobs," it said.

Under the new rules, the manufacturer will be required to do self-certification of compliance with the requirements and based on such certification, the licence will be issued.
"However, post approval audit of manufacturing site will be carried out by the notified bodies to check conformance with Quality Management System," it said.
Manufacture of Class A and Class B medical devices will be licenced by State Licensing Authorities concerned after Quality Management System audit by an accredited Notified Body.
"Import of all medical devices will continue to be regulated by Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and a network of NABL accredited laboratories will be set up both by the government and by other entities for testing medical devices.

Under the rules, separate provisions for regulation of Clinical Investigation (clinical trials) of investigational medical devices have also been made at par with international practices and like clinical trials, these will be regulated by CDSCO.
Conduct of clinical investigations will, while following the international practices, be conducted in a manner that ensures realization of the twin objectives of patient safety and welfare and discovery of new medical devices.