National List of Essential Medicines Nepal 2021

National List of Essential Medicines Nepal, Sixth revision, 2021

Essential medicines have been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population. These medicines are selected with regard to public health relevance, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness. Careful and prudent selection of a limited range of essential medicines help in higher quality of care, better drug management, value added supply chain, rational use, availability and cost effectiveness of health resources.

The Government of Nepal/DDA first published the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) in 1986. The list was revised in 1992, 1997, 2002, 2011 and 2016 AD. The Department of Drug Administration (DDA) has brought out this sixth revision of the National List of Essential Medicine, 2021 approved by the Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal dated April, 21, 2021.

The list has been approved and published and is aligned with the main objectives of the National Drug Policy 1995 i.e., to ensure the availability and affordability of efficacious, safe and good quality medicines relevant to the quality healthcare needs and service of the people in a sustainable and equitable manner and to promote the rational use of medicines by healthcare professionals and consumers. Based on the current version of WHO Model List of Essential medicines 2019, DDA has revised the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).

The NLEM, 2021 contains 398 drug molecules in different therapeutic categories. Current revision has been done in consultation with various experts from different specialities and faculties. We Hope that all healthcare providers would embrace this document as an important tool for management of medicines and rationalizing prescription in the country as envisioned by the National Health Policy, 2076.

The health system in general and public health sector in particular is requested to seriously consider adopting this list for better healthcare output considering public healthcare relevance.

Download National List of Essential Medicines Nepal 2021