Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the majority of population. A limited range of carefully selected essential medicines leads to better health care, better drug management and lower costs. They should be Available at all times In adequate amounts In appropriate dosage forms with assured quality and Adequate information and At a price the individual and community can afford . The first national list of EM in India was prepare in the year 1996, subsequently revised in the year 2003,2011and 2015 ( 376 medicine). EM Concept 1st given by WHO in 1975 and EM list in 1977. The decision about which medicine are essential remains a national responsibility. The medicine should be licensed in India. The medicine should be useful in disease which is a public health problem in India. The medicine should be cost effective. e.g.: Iron dextran, Iron sucrose , ferric carboxymaltose It should have proven efficacy and safety profile. 5.The medicine should be aligned with the current treatment guideline for the diseases. 6. It should be stable under the storage condition in India 7. Cost of total treatment & not the unit price of a medicine must be considered. 8. When several comparable drugs are available for same therapeutic indication drug which provides most favourable benefit / risk ratio is to be selected.FDC ( Fixed dose Combination ) are generally not included unless the combination has unequivocally proven advantage over individual ingredients e.g - Antitubercular & antimalarial drugs. 10. The list of EM is based according to the level of health care Primary (P) Secondary (S) Tertiary (T)

1. Concept of Essential
Medicines
DR. PANKAJ KUMAR PATHAK
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

2. Concept of Essential Medicines
Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health
care needs of the majority of population.
A limited range of carefully selected essential medicines
leads to better health care, better drug management and
lower costs.

3. They should be
Available at all times
 In adequate amounts
 In appropriate dosage forms with assured quality and
Adequate information and
 At a price the individual and community can afford .
GoI- Jan Aushadhi Kendra- 3000

4. The first national list of EM in India was prepare in the
year 1996, subsequently revised in the year 2003,2011and
2015 ( 376 medicine).
 EM Concept 1st given by WHO in 1975 and EM list in
1977.
The decision about which medicine are essential remains a
national responsibility.

5. CRITERIA FOR NATIONAL LIST OF ESSENTIAL
MEDICINE : INDIA
1. The medicine should be licensed in India.
2. The medicine should be useful in disease which is a public
health problem in India.
3. The medicine should be cost effective. e.g.: Iron dextran,
Iron sucrose , ferric carboxymaltose
4. It should have proven efficacy and safety profile.

6. 5.The medicine should be aligned with the current treatment
guideline for the diseases.
6. It should be stable under the storage condition in India
7. Cost of total treatment & not the unit price of a medicine
must be considered.
8. When several comparable drugs are available for same
therapeutic indication drug which provides most favourable
benefit / risk ratio is to be selected.

7. 9. FDC ( Fixed dose Combination ) are generally not included
unless the combination has unequivocally proven advantage
over individual ingredients e.g - Antitubercular & antimalarial
drugs.
10. The list of EM is based according to the level of health care
• Primary (P)
• Secondary (S)
•Tertiary (T)

8. Dosage forms/ formulations
Monitoring of medicine safety and pharmacovigilance

9. THANKS