Patna: The health department has revised its Essential Drug List (EDL), adding specialised medicines and medical devices for conditions ranging from haemophilia and heart attacks to kidney disease, cervical cancer and rabies. The move is aimed at improving free treatment at govt health facilities and reducing patients’ out-of-pocket expenditure.The revised list was finalised on the recommendations of a core committee and after inputs from medical college hospital superintendents, department heads, civil surgeons and drug controllers.Among the key additions are Human Coagulation Factor VIII (250 IU and 500 IU) for haemophilia-A and Factor VIII with von Willebrand Factor (250 IU and 500 IU) for von Willebrand disease. The inclusion is expected to improve access to treatment for patients with bleeding disorders at govt hospitals.For dialysis services, 16 medical devices and consumables, including dialysers, HD blood lines, fistula needles and plasma filters, have been added for medical college hospitals.The list also includes PAP Smear Kits for cervical cancer screening and Karman Cannula for safe abortion services at medical college and district hospitals. Tenecteplase injection, used in emergency treatment of heart attacks, will now be available at district hospitals, community health centres and notified trauma centres in addition to medical colleges.For asthma and COPD, Ipratropium Bromide + Levo-Salbutamol Respules, a combination inhalation solution used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis and asthma, have replaced the earlier nebulisation drug. Equine Rabies Immunoglobulin (ERIG) and Rabies Monoclonal Antibody (RmAb) have also been included as approved options.Health minister Nishant Kumar said, “Ensuring accessible healthcare for every citizen is our priority. Revision of the essential medicines and medical equipment list will help provide better treatment at govt health institutions, particularly benefiting poor and needy families through free treatment and reducing their out-of-pocket expenditure.”
