Guwahati: The National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) now includes 30 additional pharmaceuticals as well as four key anti-cancer medications.
Four anti-cancer drugs have been added to the list, including bendamustine hydrochloride, irinotecan HCI trihydrate, lenalidomide, and leuprolide acetate. These medications are effective in treating a variety of cancers and are also reasonably priced, according to the vice chairman of the Standing National Committee on Medicines and Health Care, as reported by national media.
He added that the government is working on trade rationalisation to bring the cost of those medications used to treat common cancers within reach.
In the meanwhile, certain anti-infectives have been introduced to NLEM, including nicotine replacement therapy and the psychotherapy drugs Ivermectin, Mupirocin, and Meropenem.
With these, there are now 384 medicines listed under NLEM.
The list now includes hormones, additional endocrine medications, and contraceptives like Fludrocortisone, Ormeloxifene, Insulin Glargine, and Teneliglitin, as well as respiratory tract medications like Montelukast and ophthalmological drugs like Latanoprost and cardiovascular medications like Tenecteplase and Dabigatran.
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said,“Union Health Ministry is taking various steps under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji towards Sabko Dawai, Sasti Dawai. In this direction, the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) plays an important role in ensuring the accessibility of affordable quality medicines at all levels of healthcare. This will give a boost to cost-effective, quality medicines and contribute towards a reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare for the citizens.”
In addition to these, 26 medications from the original list have been eliminated, including ranitidine, sucralfate, white petrolatum, atenolol, and methyldopa, among many others.
Based on factors like cost-effectiveness and the accessibility of superior medications, the removal was carried out.