The fourth edition of National Formulary of India (NFI), the publication prepared by the the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) to guide medical practitioners, medical students, nurses and pharmacists on basic information on drugs and their right dosage, is expected to be ready for distribution within six months.

The revised and updated formulary, which comes after a long gap of almost 31 years since the last edition published in 1979, is under final stage of compilation with almost 40 clinicians from various fields working together for the past three months to make the publication a comprehensive and up to date reference book, according to IPC sources.

The pre-print version of the NFI, which would have almost 500 to 600 copies, is expected to be ready for circulation among almost 400 major clinicians and paramedical professionals within four months. The committee will then collect the feedbacks from these experts and would summon another session to make necessary changes for the final print. The IPC is also considering issuing the formulary online, once the book is published, which will also help the commission to update the data frequently.

Since the revised formulary is prepared after a long gap, the new edition comprises of a large number of additions and consequent deletions and the updated NFI would have many distinct features with emphasis on rational use of medicines, essential medicines and generic drugs. The final print of the revised NFI will be ready for distribution almost by the end of this year or the beginning of 2011.

The IPC, with its mission to be one of the leading scientific institutions under the central government, puts stress on keeping transparency, accountability and punctuality and the publication of the fourth edition of NFI will be completed with keeping these standards intact, said Dr G N Singh, secretary-cum- scientific director, IPC, when contacted.

The revised NFI is prepared with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has shared information for the basic document of the formulary, and the clinicians from the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA).

NFI was first published in India in 1960. The second edition came out in 1966. NFI appeared again in its third and last appearance in 1979. With rational and economic prescribing a major objective of the formulary, the NFI can be of use to nurses and other health care professionals. NFI can also prove to be an educational tool for medical and pharmacy students.