Centre is mulling over creation of a National Institute of Clinical Excellence as a technology assessment institution to promote rational use of medicines and control over use of technologies, among the other things.

This proposed institution is meant to help assess each new drug and technology in a fair, transparent and professionally competent manner, keeping costs and social dimensions included, before they are included in the national health programmes or approved for use. The proposal is currently before the Planning Commission for approval.

“Legislation and administrative action to withdraw irrational drugs and hazardous drugs from the market and to curb sharp practices that misuse and over use technologies for unethical monetary gains are key to the moves to ensure rational use of drugs,” sources said.

For generation of new drugs and technologies the main areas of intervention would be mapping the gaps and opportunities- identifying the areas where innovation is needed to either reduce costs, or increase access, or address neglected problems.

One of the other measures is to frame treatment guidelines for for diseases like HIV, TB and Malaria programmes. The prescription guidelines will be made applicable not only in the government centres that are extending treatment for HIV and TB, but also for the private health facilities and providers. The Ministry has taken inputs from some leading experts in this regard.

An expert panel of the Planning Commission has already suggested several steps to promote rational use of medicines. The Union health ministry has also asked the State Governments to take steps to set up Drugs and Therapeutics Committees (DTC) and Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committees (PTC) in hospitals based on the recommendation by World Health Organisation (WHO).