Healthcare and pharmaceuticals is among the most tightly licensed sectors in India — manufacturers, hospitals, diagnostic labs, device makers, and e-pharmacies operate under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and the Drugs Rules 1945, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and state drug authorities, the Medical Devices Rules 2017, the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules 2019, clinical-establishment and NABH / NABL standards, the Bio-Medical Waste Rules, a special GST exemption structure, and a distinct FDI policy for greenfield and brownfield pharma. A single product can need a manufacturing licence, a sale licence, a device registration, and an import approval all at once.
Our healthcare and pharma practice gives manufacturers, hospitals, labs, device companies, and digital-health ventures one team for the whole regulatory and financial lifecycle — drug manufacturing and sale licensing, medical-device registration, clinical-trial and import approvals, clinical-establishment, NABH and NABL support, GST structuring on exempt and taxable supplies, pharma FDI structuring, patent and trademark protection, bio-medical-waste and pollution compliance, telemedicine and data-protection frameworks, and transaction and restructuring support. Whether you are setting up a plant, opening a hospital, importing a device, or running a trial, we keep you licensed, compliant, and investment-ready.
D&C Act 1940
Drug Licensing
MD Rules 2017
Device Classes A–D
NABH / NABL
Accreditation
Laws & Frameworks We Work Under
Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940
Drugs Rules 1945
CDSCO
Medical Devices Rules 2017
Clinical Trials Rules 2019
Cosmetics Rules 2020
Clinical Establishments Act
NABH / NABL
Bio-Medical Waste Rules 2016
GST (Healthcare Exemptions)
Patents Act (Sec 3(d))
Telemedicine Guidelines
DPDP Act 2023
Pharma FDI Policy
FAQs on Healthcare & Pharma Compliance in India
What licences are needed to manufacture drugs in India?
Drug manufacture is licensed by the state licensing authority under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and the Drugs Rules 1945 — typically a manufacturing licence in Form 25 for non-specified drugs and Form 28 for specified categories, supported by product permissions. The premises and processes must meet Good Manufacturing Practices under Schedule M, and a qualified technical staff is required. Exports may also need a WHO-GMP certificate and Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (COPP). We manage the application, premises readiness, and product permissions end to end.
How are medical devices regulated in India?
Medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics are regulated under the Medical Devices Rules 2017 and are classified by risk into Class A (low), B (low-moderate), C (moderate-high), and D (high). Lower-risk Class A and B devices are generally licensed by the state authority, while higher-risk Class C and D devices, and all imports, are handled by the CDSCO — manufacture on licences such as MD-5 / MD-9 and import on MD-15, with import registration on MD-14. A quality-management system and compliant labelling are required. We classify the device and manage the licensing or import pathway.
What approvals are needed to open a hospital or diagnostic lab?
A hospital, nursing home, or diagnostic lab needs registration under the Clinical Establishments Act (or the equivalent state law), bio-medical-waste authorisation from the State Pollution Control Board, AERB approval for any radiology equipment, fire and building NOCs, and licences for any in-house pharmacy or blood bank. Accreditation by NABH (hospitals) or NABL (labs) is voluntary but increasingly required for insurer and government empanelment. We coordinate registration, accreditation, and the supporting approvals.
Is healthcare exempt from GST?
Healthcare services provided by a clinical establishment, an authorised medical practitioner, or paramedics are exempt from GST, as are certain related services. However, most pharmaceutical products and many medical devices are taxable, and some hospital supplies (such as certain room categories or non-clinical services) can attract GST. Because exempt outputs block input-tax credit, the exempt-taxable mix needs careful planning. We map your supplies, optimise input credit, and handle classification and refund issues.
How much foreign investment is allowed in pharma?
For greenfield pharma (new manufacturing), FDI is allowed up to 100% under the automatic route. For brownfield pharma (investment in existing companies), FDI is allowed up to 74% under the automatic route, and beyond that through the government-approval route, subject to conditions such as maintaining production of essential medicines and limits on non-compete clauses. Investment must follow the FEMA Non-Debt Instruments Rules with FC-GPR reporting. We structure the investment and manage the approvals and filings.
What does it take to run a clinical trial in India?
Clinical trials are governed by the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules 2019. A trial needs permission from the CDSCO / DCGI, conduct through a site overseen by a registered ethics committee, valid informed consent, and a framework for compensation for trial-related injury or death. Import of the investigational drug needs a test licence, and a pharmacovigilance system must capture and report adverse events. We obtain the approvals and put the consent, compensation, and safety-reporting systems in place.
Can medicines be sold online in India?
Online sale of medicines is possible but must rest on a valid drug licence — the seller or its fulfilment partner needs the appropriate retail or wholesale licence, and prescription medicines require a valid prescription. The platform must also meet data-protection obligations under the DPDP Act for sensitive health data, comply with consumer-protection and intermediary rules, and watch the evolving regulatory position on e-pharmacies. We structure the licensing, prescription-validation, and data-protection framework for a compliant e-pharmacy.