The Bihar health department has revised its Essential Drug List to include specialised medicines and medical devices for conditions such as haemophilia, heart attacks, kidney disease, cervical cancer and rabies. The move aims to improve access to treatment at government hospitals and reduce patients’ out-of-pocket expenses.
Key Additions to the List
The revised list includes Factor VIII medicines for haemophilia and von Willebrand disease. It also adds 16 medical devices and consumables for dialysis, including dialysers, blood lines and fistula needles.
In addition, hospitals will have access to Pap smear kits for cervical cancer screening and Karman cannulas for safe abortion services.
Wider Access to Emergency Treatment
The government has also expanded the availability of Tenecteplase, an emergency medicine used to treat heart attacks, to district hospitals, community health centres and notified trauma centres.
As per The Times of India, the revised list also includes new options for rabies treatment and an updated inhalation medicine for asthma and COPD.
Focus on Affordable Healthcare
Health Minister Nishant Kumar said the revision will help government hospitals provide better treatment, particularly for poor and needy families. Therefore, the move could improve access to essential healthcare while reducing the financial burden on patients.