Information about HATHI COMMISSION.....Contd....

[Guest guest]

The concept of essential drugs was first stressed in 1972, in the

WHO's action programme for attaining health for all by 2000 AD.

The Hathi Commission had recognised 113 drugs as essential and the

government of India has included 279 drugs in the genre.

A list of `essential drugs' compiled by the government health

department, it is reliably learnt, includes Nimesulides both in the

tablet and syrup as one of the `essential drugs' for centralised

procurement to be used by government hospitals . Nimesulides,

cautioned some clinicians,It may lead to arrhythmias along with

liver toxicity and GI related problems. Yet the Inclusion of

Nimesulides has predictably stirred a hornets nest and the medical

fraternity is clearly divided over the issue. One section defends

the drug tooth and nail, holding it as a very effective painkiller

with very few side effects.However, the conservative section is

gravely concerned over the indiscriminate and growing use of

Nimesulides.

Further, The exercise to shortlist the essential drugs was

undertaken by the Health System Development Projects (HSDP) a year

ago, on the suggestion of Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational

Use of Drugs (DSPRUD).

Manufacturing of fancy antibiotics and painkillers was on the cost

of exclusion of life saving drugs like ORS, anti-tubercular drugs,

or vaccine to counter Japanese encephalitis. Even for something as

essential as vitamin A, one has to depend solely on government

supply.

Dr.Kiran V.Barar