The Government on Tuesday said that it has revised the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) by bringing in at least 34 new major drugs, including several anti-cancer drugs, antibiotics, and vaccines taking the total drugs under it to 384.
After launching the list on Tuesday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted, “Released the National List of Essential Medicines 2022. It comprises 384 drugs across 27 categories. Several antibiotics, vaccines, anti-cancer drugs and many other drugs will become more affordable & reduce patients’ out-of-pocket expenditure.”
Anti-infectives like Ivermectin, Mupirocin and Meropenem have also been added to the list. Four major anti-cancer drugs — Bendamustine Hydrochloride, Irinotecan HCI Trihydrate, Lenalidomide and Leuprolide acetate which are effective in various types of cancers — and psychotherapeutic medicines — Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Buprenorphine —have been added to the list.
However, 26 drugs such as Ranitidine, Sucralfate, white petrolatum, Atenolol and Methyldopa have been dropped from the previous list. The deletion has been done based on the parameters of cost effectiveness and availability of better drugs.
Mandaviya said his ministry is taking various steps under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “Sabko Dawai, Sasti Dawai”.
“In this direction, National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) plays an important role in ensuring accessibility of affordable quality medicines at all levels of healthcare. This will give a boost to cost-effective, quality medicines and contribute towards reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare for the citizens,” he said.
“The primary purpose of NLEM is to promote rational use of medicines considering the three important aspects — cost, safety and efficacy,” Mandaviya said.
In the revised list, endocrine medicines and contraceptives Fludrocortisone, Ormeloxifene, Insulin Glargine and Teneliglitin have been added. Montelukast, which acts on the respiratory tract, and ophthalmological drug Latanoprost also figure in the list.
Besides, cardiovascular medicines Dabigatran and Tenecteplase find place in the list besides medicines used in palliative care.
“Anti-infectives such as Ivermectin, Meropenem, Cefuroxime, Amikacin, Bedaquiline, Delamanid, Itraconazole ABC Dolutegravir have been added to the NLM,” Dr YK Gupta, Vice Chairman of the Standing National Committee on Medicines, said.