On Wednesday, the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) supported the CDSCO notice GSR 754 (E), which eased the criteria for sales licenses for retailers and wholesalers engaged in the stock or sale of medical equipment. The agency, which represents a sizeable share of the contact lens market, likewise emphasized the good intentions behind the streamlined selling license criteria but voiced reservations about how they would be carried out in practice. 

Mr. Pavan Choudary, Chairman & Director General, MTaI, stated that the new sales license rules, though welcome, would mean that thousands of these optical shops now need to go through this mechanism for registration, as most of these units are not aware of the sales license requirement and the process to get the registration certificate. 

He explained that certain hurdles might be faced while implementing the policy, such as a lack of awareness among optical stores and contact lens clinics regarding sales license/registration certification requirements and challenges related to the submission of applications due to the wide geographical spread of optical stores and contact lens clinics across the country. 

Another challenge that can be faced during the implementation of due processes is a lack of preparedness among the regulators, such as state Licensing Authorities, Zonal officers, and other relevant authorities, as they may not be fully sensitized to this registration process. Also, the prescribed process which requires uploading the registration form to the online portal is not currently available. 

(Source: https://www.expresshealthcare.in/news/thousands-of-contact-lens-businesses-face-disruption-due-to-unpreparedness-in-sale-licensing-requirements-mtai/436664/ )