New Delhi : Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, launched the National Lists of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2022. 384 drugs have been included in this list with the addition of 34 drugs, while 26 from the previous list have been dropped. The medicines have been categorised into 27 therapeutic categories. Dr. Mandaviya stated “National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) plays a vital role in providing 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.”
He further elaborated that the concept is based on the premise that a limited list of carefully selected medicines will enhance the quality of healthcare, provide cost-effective healthcare, and better management of medicines. Adding to that, he stated, that NLEM is a dynamic document and is revised regularly considering the changing public health priorities as well as advancements in pharmaceutical knowledge.
Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State stressed enhancing awareness regarding Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) which is “emerging as a big challenge for our scientists and community and we need to create awareness in the society about AMR” while congratulating the stakeholders for the revised NLEM which takes the country forward in the direction of provisioning of affordable healthcare to its citizens.