The Indian government is increasing its efforts to target the overpricing of medical devices in the country. On August 1st, the Indian government informed parliament that medical devices must have the maximum retail price (MRP) labelled on their packaging by 2018.
Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, medical device companies must put on their labels the name, address, telephone number, e-mail of persons or of office that can be contacted in case of consumer complaints. The new rule will also apply to medical devices sold through e-commerce channels.
The new regulation came after amendment to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules published by the Department of Consumer Affairs earlier in June. In March, India’s National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) announced that 22 medical devices that have been reclassified as “drugs” must also label the MRP on their packaging.