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National Lists Of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2022

National Lists Of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2022:

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, launched National Lists of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2022.

  • 384 drugs have been included in this list with addition of 34 drugs, while 26 from the previous list have been dropped.
  • The medicines have been categorized into 27 therapeutic categories.
  • The following criteria are followed for inclusion in NLEM:
    • be useful in diseases which is a public health problem in India
    • be licensed/ approved Drugs Controller General (India) (DCGI)
    • have proven efficacy and safety profile based on scientific evidence
    • be comparatively cost effective
    • be aligned with the current treatment guidelines
    • recommended under National Health Programs of India. (e.g. Ivermectin part of Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis 2018).
    • when more than one medicine are available from the same therapeutic class, one prototype/ medically best suited medicine of that class to be included.
    • price of total treatment is considered and not the unit price of a medicine
    • fixed dose combinations are usually not included
    • vaccines as and when are included in Universal Immunization Program (e.g. Rotavirus vaccine).