With the proposal to constitute an expert panel to revise the 'National List of Essential Medicines,’ still pending with the Health Ministry for several months, a Parliamentary committee has called for an early decision and suggested mandatory updation of the list in regular intervals.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, in a recent report, expressed its displeasure over the long delay in constituting the expert panel as suggested by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). It suggested that there should be a mechanism for regular mandatory updation of the list.

“The NLEM intends to have some noble objective of ensuring abundant availability of drugs considered adequate to meet the common contemporary health needs of the general population in the country. The Committee recommends early consideration and clearance of the same by the Department,” report said, while questioning the rationale for the long delay and the silence by the department on the point.

According to the Action Taken Report (ATR) submitted by the Health Department, the NLEM was first time introduced in the country in year 1996 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare consisting of drugs considered adequate to meet the common contemporary health needs of the general population and general obligation of the health administrator to ensure abundant availability of such drugs in the country.

“The National Essential Drug List 1996 was revised in 2003 and 354 drug formulations covered under the list. The list was revised by an expert committee constituted by Directorate General of Health Services in June, 2002 consisting of expert of various medical specialities. The list was approved by the Ministry in July, 2003,” the department said.

“For further revision of the list of essential medicine, a proposal to set up an expert committee has been forwarded by the Office of DCG (I) to the Ministry with the approval of the DGHS. The matter is under consideration of the Ministry of Health,” the ATR said.

A collaborative workshop was conducted by CDSCO in collaboration with AIIMS in September, 2009 which discussed the National Essential List 2003.  the recommendations of  the workshop could also be considered by the Committee during its deliberations, the department said.