Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Oct-Dec;40(4):223-32.
doi: 10.4103/0970-0218.164382.

Essential Medicines: An Indian Perspective

Rituparna Maiti  1 , Vikas Bhatia  2 , Biswa Mohan Padhy  1 , Debasish Hota  1
Affiliations

Essential Medicines: An Indian Perspective

Rituparna Maiti et al. Indian J Community Med. 2015 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

The concept of defining essential medicines and establishing a list of them was aimed to improve the availability of affordable medicines for the world's poor. Access to essential medicines is a major determinant of health outcomes. Several countries have made substantial progress towards increasing access to essential medicines, but access to essential medicines in developing countries like India is not adequate. In this review we have tried to present the Indian scenario in respect to availability and accessibility of essential medicines over last one decade. To enhance the credibility of Indian healthcare system, procurement and delivery systems of essential medicines have to be strengthened through government commitment, careful selection, adequate public sector financing, efficient distribution systems, control on taxes and duties, and inculcating a culture of rational use of medicines in current and future prescribers.

Keywords: Essential medicines; National Medicine Policy; health expenditure; primary healthcare; rational drug use.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Nil.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Total expenditure on health (THE) as percentage of GDP (2003-2012)
Figure 2
Figure 2
External resources on health as percentage of THE (2003-2012)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Masiga J. Essential drugs concept: Is it still relevant in our situation today? Meds Update. 2010;17:2–8.
    1. Report of a WHO Expert Committee. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002. The Selection and Use of Essential Medicines. (WHO Technical Report Series, No. 914). - PubMed
    1. WHO, WHO Offficial Records, Prophylactic and therapeutic substances. In: Twenty-eighth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 13–30 May 1975. Part 1. Resolutions and decisions, annexes. Geneva, World Health Organization, 1975 (Official Records of the World Health Organization, No, 226), Annex. 13:96–110.
    1. WHA 28.66 - Prophylactic and Therapeutic Substances. WHA Resolution; Twenty-eighth World Health Assembly, 1975. [Last accessed on 2013 May 12]. Available at: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js21447en .
    1. WHA54.11 - WHO Medicines Strategy. WHA Resolution; Fiftyfourth World Health Assembly, 2001. [Last accessed on 2013 May 12]. Available at: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/m/abstract/Js16336e .