National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM)
Source : PIB
GS II : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
What is discussed under National List of Essential Medicines?
- About National List of Essential Medicines
- How it helps
Why in News ?
The Union Health Ministry launched the new National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), where 384 drugs have been included in this list with addition of 34 drugs, while 26 from the previous list have been dropped.
About National List of Essential Medicines
- Essential Medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population.
Photo by Christine Sandu on Unsplash - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare hence prepared and released the first National List of Essential Medicines of India in 1996 consisting of 279 medicines and was revised thrice in 2003, 2011 and 2015, before 2022.
- The NLEM independent Standing National Committee on Medicines (SNCM) was constituted by the Union Health Ministry in 2018.
After detailed consultation with experts and stakeholders, the committee revised the NLEM, 2015 and submitted its report on NLEM, 2022 to the Health Ministry. - The list is made with consideration to disease prevalence, efficacy, safety and comparative cost-effectiveness of the medicines.
- Such medicines are intended to be available in adequate amounts, in appropriate dosage forms and strengths with assured quality.
- They should be available in such a way that an individual or community can afford.
- The medicines listed in the NLEM are sold below a price ceiling fixed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
Why it is required?
- Promote rational use of medicines considering three important aspects which are cost, safety and efficacy.
- Also helps in utilisation of healthcare resources and budget, drug procurement policies, health insurance, improving prescribing habits, medical education and training and drafting pharmaceutical policies.
How these medicines are identified?
- Useful in treating diseases which are a public health problem in India.
- recommended under the National Health Programs of India
- They have to be licensed/approved by the Drugs Controller General (DCGI).
- Medicines are delisted based on
- banned in India
- concerns on the safety profile
- better efficacy and is cheaper medicine is available
- if the resistance pattern has rendered an antimicrobial ineffective
Daily Current Affairs : Click Here