Lok Sabha Question No. 1360 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-06
Subject: List of Essential Medicines for Children
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1360 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH FEBRUARY, 2026

## LIST OF ESSENTIAL MEDICINES FOR CHILDREN

## 1360. SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that India's Essential Medicines List for Children (EMLc) has not been revised since 2011 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to constitute a committee to revise the EMLc, on the lines of the Standing National Committee on Medicines that revised the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM 2022), if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that typhoid vaccines, recommended by the WHO, are absent from NLEM 2022 and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to include the same in NLEM 2022 and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the number of medicines and vaccines currently included in India's EMLc, against the WHO's 10th Model List for Children; and
- (f) the mechanisms in place to ensure safe, affordable and uninterrupted supply of essential paediatric medicines, particularly in rural and underserved areas?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (f): List of Essential Medicines for Children of India has been published by Indian Academy of Pediatrics, an association of Pediatricians in India, in 2011. Revision of the said list does not fall within the purview of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), 2022 has been prepared based on the recommendation of Standing National Committee on Medicine (SNCM) under Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Health Research (DHR) considering the contemporary knowledge of use of therapeutic products in health & hygiene of general public, various documents of medicines including World Health Organization's (WHOs) Essential list of medicines for children 2019.

NLEM 2022 includes various medicine for children including vaccines which are under Universal Immunization Program of India (UIP). Any medicine/ vaccine, as and when recommended under any National Health Programmes will be deemed included in NLEM.

Under the National Health Mission (NHM), financial support is provided to the States/UTs for strengthening their healthcare delivery system including support for provision of free essential medicines in public health facilities based on the requirements posed by States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall resource envelope. Under Free Drugs Service Initiative, Ministry has recommended facility wise Essential Drugs List (EDL) to be made available at the public healthcare facilities in the country to ensure widespread access to essential medicines.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under Department of Pharmaceuticals monitors availability of drugs in the country and takes remedial measures whenever issue of non-availability of any medicine is brought to its notice. Complaints regarding non-availability of a medicine in the market is received by NPPA through various sources and immediate measures taken in coordination with the State Authorities and the manufacturer of the drugs concerned.

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