The expert committee which drafted the “National List of Essential Medicines 2003” is meeting here today to discuss the possibilities of a further expansion to the list of 354 drugs. The meeting has been necessitated due to the instruction of the Supreme Court during the recent hearing of an SLP against the Pharmaceutical Policy 2002.

The expert committee, consisting of experts from multi-disciplinary fields was constituted for revision of National Essential Drugs List 1996. The committee had evaluated large number of drugs available in each therapeutic category and based on the accepted parameters recommended for inclusion of specific drugs in the NLEM 2003. The committee had taken more than six months to finalise the list.

However, the SC asked the committee to have another look into the list after the observations made by the respondent in regard to NLEM 2003 in the court. The respondent had submitted a WHO list, which had more drugs that what has been included in NLEM 2003. This list of additional drugs would be required to be scrutinized by the same expert committee. It is known that the committee may have to take another three months to evaluate the drugs for inclusion in the essential drug list.

It was in pursuance with the SC order dated March 10, 2003; the committee examined the issues concerning the term “life saving drugs”

The committee had observed that essential medicines are intended to be available within the context of functioning health systems at all times in adequate amounts, in the appropriate dosage forms, with assured quality.

The medicines that are currently included in the list have gone through several intensive screenings by the expert group as well as by invited and consulted professionals. Cost of therapy was worked out especially in the context of already available therapies and keeping in view the drugs available for these categories in the WHO list of essential medicines. Essential Drugs list of various states and WHO Model Formulary (2002) were also referred during the review process. Medicines used by various national programmes and emergency care drugs etc., which were earlier identified by health care professionals in the context of drug policy was also considered.