Gandhinagar: Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel announced the addition of 665 drugs to the list of life-saving drugs. The Gujarat government has increased the Essential Drug List (EDL) from 717 to 1382 drugs for the 2024-25 period. These drugs will be available free of charge at all health centres, from sub-centres to civil hospitals in both rural and urban areas.

The EDL is revised annually by the state government to ensure the availability of necessary medicines. This year, the list includes new drugs against cancer, infection, cardiovascular illness, diabetes, blood pressure, and kidney diseases.

The additions include 308 drugs for primary therapy, 495 for secondary therapy, 1349 for tertiary therapy, and 33 for special therapy. The list comprises 543 tablets, 331 injections, 300 surgical items, and 208 other drugs, ensuring a wide range of treatment options.

The Health minister highlighted increases in specific drug categories. In the list of life-saving drugs, Cardiovascular drugs increased from 24 to 117, anti-infective drugs from 120 to 199, anti-cancer drugs from 13 to 47, and neurological and psychiatric drugs from 52 to 123, covering a total of 12 disease categories.

When a drug is added to the Essential Drug List (EDL), it becomes available in government-run health facilities like hospitals and clinics. The drug is provided free or at a reduced cost to ensure everyone can access it. It meets safety and effectiveness standards and addresses common health issues. The government prioritises its supply to maintain continuous availability, reflecting public health needs and tackling critical health conditions. DeshGujarat