National Formulary of India
National Formulary of India is a manual that contains information about selected pharmaceutical drugs. It also includes administrative and regulatory information. Different formularies are created for different levels of health care.
About National Formulary of India
The first National Formulary of India was published in 1960. The second and third formularies were published in 1966 and 1979 respectively. It is published by the Ministry of Health. However, from 2008 the National Formulary of India is published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission on behalf of the Health Ministry. The National Formulary of India was adopted from the World Health Organization (WHO) model.
Sixth Edition of National Formulary of India
The sixth edition of the National Formulary of India was launched by the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in October 2021. It was published based on the principle “Do not miss critical and do not overload”. In the sixth edition, the chapters such as Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs, dermatological drugs, basics of medical emergencies, antimigraine drugs, substances used in poisoning, antidotes, laxatives, antidiarrhoeals, anaphylaxis, antiallergics, antiulcer drugs, antacids, antiepileptics and anti-inflammatory drugs were revised. Around 34 therapeutic chapters were included in the sixth edition. This includes 591 drug monographs as well. The sixth edition is aligned with the National Health Programmes in the country and the National List of Essential Medicines. It also includes information about the drugs banned in the country. Also, it includes drugs banned in sports and immunization schedules. The sixth edition has a new addend which is not found on previous editions. That is, it has included “How to use National Formulary of India” page and also its salient features. The sixth edition includes only those drugs that are approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the drug regulator of the country. The term availability has been replaced with dosage forms and usual strength.
Importance of National Formulary of India
The National Formulary of India helps to understand about the impact and side effects of different medicines. Also, it promotes the rational use of different medicines in the country. It is beneficial and of great help to the healthcare professionals while prescribing the medicines to the patients.
