National List of Essential Medicines

The National List of Essential Medicines identifies essential medicines that meet the priority health-care needs of most people in India. It seeks to improve their availability, affordability and rational use throughout the health system. The list is periodically revised as disease patterns, evidence and treatment practices change.

Basis for selecting medicines

Selection reflects national health needs rather than the commercial popularity of a medicine.

• A medicine must address diseases of public-health relevance in India.
• Its selection considers evidence of efficacy, safety and comparative cost-effectiveness.
• The medicine must be suitable for use within India's health-care system, with appropriate dosage forms and strengths.

Role in health-care delivery

The list provides a common reference for governments, health facilities and medical professionals.

• It guides public procurement, stocking and supply of priority medicines at appropriate levels of care.
• It supports rational prescribing and the preparation of treatment guidelines, formularies and professional training.
• The NLEM 2022 contains 384 medicines, classified according to their use at primary, secondary or tertiary levels of care.

Link with medicine-price regulation

The NLEM also provides the principal basis for identifying medicines subject to statutory price regulation.

• Essential medicines incorporated into Schedule I of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 become scheduled formulations.
• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority fixes or revises their ceiling prices according to the prescribed method.
• Inclusion in the NLEM establishes national priority, but effective access also requires procurement, reliable supply and quality assurance.