Government Expands Affordable Medicines List with 10 New Essential Drug Formulations

Mumbai, August 3: In a move aimed at improving access to affordable healthcare, the government has added 10 new essential drug formulations to its subsidized medicines programme. The newly included medicines are intended to support the treatment of common and chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, bacterial infections, gastric ulcers, fever, and pain management.

The expanded list is expected to improve the availability of cost-effective medicines for patients suffering from chronic and infectious diseases, while reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. The initiative forms part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen access to affordable, quality medicines across the country.

The latest additions include:

• Paracetamol Oral Suspension for the treatment of fever and pain, priced at 0.66 per ml.
• Telmisartan + Metoprolol (25 mg) for hypertension at 15.01 per tablet.
• Telmisartan + Metoprolol (50 mg) for hypertension and cardiovascular conditions at 18.50 per tablet.
• Telmisartan + Chlorthalidone + Metoprolol (50 mg) for resistant hypertension at 11.77 per tablet.
• Telmisartan + Chlorthalidone + Metoprolol (25 mg) for hypertension at 11.67 per tablet.
• Nebivolol + Telmisartan for hypertension at ₹13.70 per tablet.
• Sitagliptin + Glimepiride + Metformin (1000 mg + 2 mg) for the management of Type 2 diabetes at 19.46 per tablet.
• Sitagliptin + Glimepiride + Metformin (1000 mg + 1 mg) for Type 2 diabetes at 17.73 per tablet.
• Clarithromycin + Pantoprazole + Amoxicillin Combination Kit for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric ulcers at 122.56 per kit.
• Dapagliflozin + Pioglitazone + Metformin SR for blood glucose control in Type 2 diabetes at 18.77 per tablet.