Health sector NGOs are calling on the Union Health Ministry to urgently update the National List of Essential Medicines. The last formal notification of the current list was issued in September 2022, and since then, global health standards have shifted. The National List of Essential Medicines serves as the foundation for drug procurement and health insurance policies, so keeping the document current is vital for public health management.
The list has a history of periodic updates, having been first formulated in 1996. Revisions followed in 2003, 2011, and 2015. The most recent update occurred in 2022, expanding the catalogue to 384 medicines. However, the primary purpose of the list—to ensure the priority healthcare needs of the population are met through efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness—is threatened by the stagnation of recent years.
The concept relies on the idea that a limited, carefully selected set of medicines improves quality and management within the system. While the list is meant to be a dynamic document reflecting changing public health priorities and pharmaceutical advancements, it has not moved since 2022. This delay means the policy framework is based on evidence that is now several years old.
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WHO Comparison Exposes Gaps
The World Health Organization has revised its Model List of Essential Medicines twice since the Indian list was last notified. Updates in 2023 and 2025 brought the global standard to 523 medicines. When compared to the current Indian list of 384 items, the disparity is significant. The gap between the two lists is a bit glaring, particularly when considering the rise of noncommunicable diseases in the country.
The current Indian list is missing critical treatments for cancer and diabetes. Specifically, the document omits 17 active cancer-treating agents and four supportive agents used in oncology. The list also fails to include nine monoclonal antibodies. These biologics have been scientifically proven to be critical for targeted therapies in various diseases, yet they remain absent from the country’s essential treatment protocols.
While updating the list is a bureaucratic exercise, the practical reality for patients is that the delay restricts access to life-saving care. For a family dealing with a cancer diagnosis, the difference between a government-subsidized drug and a private-sector price can be a barrier to survival. Updating the list moves from a theoretical policy adjustment to a practical necessity for ensuring that new medical evidence results in new, available treatments for the average citizen.
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NGOs argue that aligning the National List of Essential Medicines with the WHO list will make these treatments more accessible and affordable. They contend that bringing these drugs under the essential umbrella will help realize constitutional guarantees regarding health equity. The delay, they say, denies millions of citizens access to newly recognized essential medicines, restricting affordable options in both the public and private sectors.
Officials from the health sector maintain that the Ministry must reflect the latest evidence and global commitments. Ensuring the list matches the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, they assert, is the only way to guarantee that life-saving treatments are accessible to all populations regardless of economic status.