The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 has been passed by both Houses of Parliament, bringing a major shift in India’s health regulatory framework by decriminalising minor procedural offences and replacing imprisonment with graded monetary penalties.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the reform is aimed at simplifying compliance, reducing litigation burden and promoting a trust-based governance framework across the healthcare ecosystem. 

The amendments span 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 ministries, of which 717 provisions have been decriminalised. In the health sector, the reforms cover key legislations including the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, Pharmacy Act, 1948, Food Safety and Standards Act, Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, and the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021. 

A major takeaway for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry is the introduction of a structured civil adjudication mechanism under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Minor violations, especially in cosmetics compliance, such as non-maintenance of statutory records or delayed information submission, will now be addressed through show-cause notices, hearings and appellate processes instead of court-led criminal proceedings. This is expected to bring faster resolution and greater predictability for manufacturers, marketers and regulatory teams. 

The Bill also modernises penalty provisions under the Pharmacy Act and strengthens proportionate enforcement under the Food Safety and Standards Act. For hospitals and healthcare facilities, the Clinical Establishments Act now places greater emphasis on monetary penalties in cases where deficiencies do not pose immediate patient safety risks, encouraging quicker corrective action without criminal prosecution.