Overview
The NLEM has not been updated since September 13, 2022, even though the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines was revised in 2023 and 2025. The Working Group has written to the Centre on 3 July 2026 demanding an urgent, transparent revision.
Key Developments
- Current NLEM (2022) contains 384 medicines.
- WHO list (2025) now includes 523 medicines, creating a gap of 139 drugs.
- Missing from NLEM are 17 cancer‑treating agents, 4 supportive oncology drugs, and nine monoclonal antibodies.
- The Working Group warns that the delay denies free access to newly recognised essential medicines in public hospitals and keeps private‑sector prices high.
Important Facts
Inclusion in the NLEM triggers two critical mechanisms:
- The NPPA imposes a ceiling price, protecting patients from exorbitant costs.
- Scheduled drugs must be stocked and dispensed free of charge in public health facilities.
Because the list has not been refreshed, patients with high‑prevalence, life‑threatening conditions such as cancer and diabetes cannot benefit from newer, internationally accepted standards of care.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the NLEM revision touches upon several GS topics:
- Health Policy & Governance (GS3): The process of updating essential medicines, price regulation, and the role of expert committees.
- Constitutional Rights (GS2): The Working Group links the delay to the Right to Life, emphasizing health as a component of this right.
- International Comparisons (GS3): Benchmarking against the WHO list illustrates how global standards influence domestic policy.
Way Forward
The Working Group recommends a “transparent, time‑bound, conflict‑of‑interest‑free” revision process. Key steps could include:
- Setting a clear timeline (e.g., within six months) for the Ministry to review and incorporate missing drugs.
- Public consultation with clinicians, patient groups, and industry to ensure evidence‑based selections.
- Periodic alignment with WHO updates while retaining flexibility for India‑specific health priorities such as tuberculosis treatment.
Timely action will help fulfil the constitutional promise of affordable health care and bring India’s essential‑medicine framework in line with global best practices.