The Delhi High Court has sought the Centre's response on a plea challenging its decision to notify blood monitoring devices, digital thermometers, nebulizers, and glucometers as 'drugs' under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. A bench of Chief Justice and Justice issued a notice to the Health Ministry whose notification has been challenged by an association representing manufacturers and traders of surgical and other medical equipment. The court asked the ministry to file its reply before the next date of hearing on December 11.
The association, in its PIL, has contended that none of the notified devices have a drug component and therefore, bringing them under the ambit of the Act was an arbitrary decision. The petition, filed through advocates claims that the notification would create an unwarranted burden of expenditure on importers, traders, and manufacturers of these devices and…
