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Concerns over delay in NLEM revision impact healthcare equity

Published July 6, 2026 at 2:55 PM UTC

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The delay in revising the National List of Essential Medicines to include newly developed cancer drugs raises critical concerns about healthcare equity in India. Without these medicines listed, disparities in access persist, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged populations. Despite recommendations from institutions like the Tata Memorial Centre and multiple advocacy groups, bureaucratic and procedural hurdles have stalled the update, risking violation of patients' constitutional rights to health. Prompt and transparent revision of the NLEM is essential to bridge these gaps and uphold social justice in healthcare delivery.