NEW DELHI: The National Lists of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2022, which were released here on Tuesday by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, contain a total of 384 medicines. 34 new drugs have been added to the list, while 26 substances from the previous list have been removed. 27 therapeutic categories have been used to group the medications.
The revision of NLEM 2022 was completed following extensive collaboration with all relevant parties, including academics, businesspeople, and public policy professionals, as well as with key publications like the WHO EML 2021. "Union Health Ministry is taking various steps towards Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji's vision of "Sabko Dawai, Sasti Dawai," and in this regard, the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) plays a crucial role in ensuring accessibility of affordable quality medicines at all levels of healthcare. This will boost cost-effective, quality medicines and help to lower out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare for the citizens," says a statement.
Speaking at the event, the health minister explained that "essential drugs" are those that meet the most pressing medical demands in terms of effectiveness, safety, quality, and overall cost of care. The main goal of NLEM is to encourage the sensible use of medications while taking into account its three key components, namely cost, safety, and efficacy.
It also helps in the formulation of pharmaceutical policies, drug procurement policies, health insurance, bettering prescribing practises, medical education and training for undergrads and grads, and budgeting for healthcare resources. In NLEM, the medicines are categorized based on level of healthcare system as: P- Primary; S- Secondary and T- Tertiary.
He said that the idea is founded on the idea that a small number of well chosen drugs can improve healthcare quality, offer affordable healthcare, and facilitate better administration of medications. The NLEM, he said, is a dynamic document that undergoes regular revisions in light of shifting public health goals and advances in pharmaceutical knowledge. The National List of Essential Drugs was created for the first time in 1996 and has since undergone three revisions in 2003, 2011 and 2015.
In 2018, the Union Health Ministry set up the independent Standing National Committee on Medicines (SNCM), which revised the NLEM, 2015 and submitted its report on the NLEM, 2022 to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. "The Government of India has accepted the Committee's recommendations and adopted the list," he said. The pharmaceuticals on the list must be effective in treating conditions that are a public health concern in India, be licenced by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), and have a demonstrated safety and efficacy profile based on scientific research.
The National Health Programs of India requires that the medicine be recommended (e.g. Ivermectin part of Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis 2018). When there are multiple medications in a therapeutic class, only the prototype or medically best-suited medication from that class is included in the list. Instead of the medicine's unit price, the cost of the entire course of treatment is taken into account for inclusion in the list.
Centre working on CGHS grievance redressal: Mansukh Mandaviya
India's first nasal vaccine approved, announces Health Minister Mandaviya
Health Ministry announces nation-wide blood donation drive starting Sept 17