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Jan Vishwas Bill 2026 Decriminalizes Medical Device Industry Violations

The Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026, passed by Parliament, decriminalizes numerous punitive measures for the medical devices industry under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act. It replaces imprisonment for minor procedural violations with a system of graded monetary penalties and structured adjudication. The reform, coordinated by Niti Aayog and DPIIT, aims to reduce litigation, ease compliance, and foster a trust-based ecosystem for manufacturers. Industry body AiMeD applauds the move, stating it will enhance innovation, global competitiveness, and ultimately benefit healthcare delivery.

Key Points: Jan Vishwas Bill 2026: Decriminalization for Medical Devices

  • Decriminalizes minor violations under Drugs & Cosmetics Act
  • Replaces imprisonment with monetary penalties
  • Aims to reduce litigation and compliance burden
  • Part of broader regulatory reform across 79 Central Acts
2 min read

AiMeD applauds Niti Aayog, DPIIT, for decriminalising punitive measures on medical devices under Jan Vishwas Bill

India's Jan Vishwas Bill 2026 replaces imprisonment with fines for medical device procedural lapses, easing compliance and boosting industry growth.

"We applaud Niti Aayog and DPIIT's pivotal role... to decriminalise many punitive measures - Rajiv Nath, AiMeD"

New Delhi, April 4

The Association of Indian Medical Devices Industry extends its heartfelt appreciation to Rajiv Gauba Committee under Niti Aayog and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade for their exemplary coordination with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, and other stakeholders in driving the passage of the Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026.

This landmark legislation, passed by both Houses of Parliament on April 3, 2026, represents a transformative step under the Prime Minister's initiative for regulatory reforms. By decriminalising numerous punitive measures previously applied to medical devices under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940--replacing imprisonment for minor procedural violations with graded monetary penalties and structured adjudication--the Bill shifts towards a governance-focused framework with minimal government interference.

These changes, including amendments to Sections 27A(ii) and 28A, alleviate the compliance burden, reduce litigation, and foster a trust-based ecosystem that empowers the medical devices industry to innovate and grow while upholding public health safeguards.

AiMeD commends this whole-of-government approach, involving 23 Ministries, for rationalising over 1,000 offences across 79 Central Acts and promoting Ease of Doing Business in the health sector.

Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator of AiMeD, stated: "We applaud Niti Aayog and DPIIT's pivotal role in coordinating with MoH&FW and CDSCO to decriminalise many punitive measures that were earlier applicable under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act on Medical Devices under the Prime Minister's initiative to bring in regulatory reforms designed on more of governance and less of government interference."

These reforms will streamline operations for Indian medical device manufacturers, enhance global competitiveness, and align with international best practices, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare delivery across the country.

The Association of Indian Medical Devices Industry (AiMeD) is the apex body representing the Indian medical devices sector, advocating for policy reforms, regulatory harmonisation, and industry growth with the objective of Make in India and encouraging responsible manufacturing with the vision to make India a global leading hub.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priyanka N
While easing the burden on industry is good, I hope the "graded monetary penalties" are substantial enough to act as a real deterrent. Patient safety cannot be compromised. The focus should remain on ensuring quality devices reach our hospitals, not just making business easier.
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Aman W
Finally! The old laws were from 1940, a completely different era. Coordinating 23 ministries is no small feat. This should reduce unnecessary court cases and allow companies to focus on R&D. Hoping this translates to more affordable medical devices for the common man in the long run.
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Sarah B
As someone working in the healthcare import/export space, this is a welcome change. The threat of imprisonment for compliance issues was a major barrier for small and medium enterprises. A trust-based ecosystem is crucial for India to become a global hub. Good work by Niti Aayog and DPIIT.
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Karthik V
"More governance, less government" sounds great on paper. The real test will be in implementation at the state level. Will the "structured adjudication" be fast and fair, or just another layer of bureaucracy? Hope the states are fully on board with this new framework.
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Nidhi U
This is excellent news for startups in the med-tech space. The fear of severe punishment for honest mistakes was a big mental block. Reducing litigation and compliance headaches will free up capital and energy for actual innovation. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳

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