OREANDA-NEWS.The essential medicines or life saving drugs have not been defined in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder. However, essential medicines, as termed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), 2011, are those that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of majority of the population. NLEM, 2011 contains 348 essential medicines.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals monitors the shortages and availability of drugs on the basis of monthly reports received from States Drug Control Administration. That Department has informed that reports on short supply of certain medicines including Human Serum Albumin (HSA) were received by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). Besides, during the current year, two reports/ representations regarding shortage of HSA have also been received from Delhi and Chandigarh by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization.

The NPPA has issued Notification No. S.O. 2292(E) dated 09.09.2014 directing all the manufacturers/ importers/ marketing companies of the drugs reported to be in short supply to submit data about production/ availability as also a compliance report for resolving their shortage in the country. In case of non-compliance of the directions, the manufacturers/ marketers/ importers are liable for penal action under the relevant provisions of Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

In order to review and revise the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), 2011, the Government constituted a Core Committee of Experts on May 7, 2014, which will submit its report within six months from the date of its first meeting.

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the LokSabha here today.