Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 5: Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel on Tuesday confirmed that paracetamol remains legal and in use across India, dismissing speculation about any regulatory ban on the commonly used pain reliever.

Speaking during the Monsoon session of Parliament, Patel clarified that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) had not issued any ban and had received no official complaints or information regarding rumours of such action.

“Paracetamol is not banned in the country,” she stated, adding that while some Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) involving paracetamol and other drugs have been banned, the drug itself continues to be approved for use.

Free Drug Access Under National Health Mission

Patel also highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure free access to essential medicines under the National Health Mission (NHM). The initiative is designed to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses for patients seeking treatment at public health facilities, including primary health centres and government hospitals.

To support this, the Centre provides financial assistance to states for:

• Procurement of essential drugs
• Strengthening supply chains and warehousing
• Implementing prescription audits
• Establishing grievance redressal systems
• Promoting the Drugs and Vaccine Distribution Management System (DVDMS) for real-time monitoring of drug availability

Essential Medicines List Expanded

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also recommended facility-wise essential medicines lists for public healthcare institutions. These include:

• 106 drugs for Sub-Health Centres
• 172 drugs for Primary Health Centres
• 300–381 drugs for higher-level facilities like Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals

States are allowed to add additional medicines to these lists based on local needs.

Ensuring Supply Chain Efficiency

To further maintain consistent drug availability, the Medical Stores Organisation (MSO) and Government Medical Store Depots (GMSDs) have active rate contracts for 697 formulations. MSO has over 1,150 registered government healthcare institutions as indenters across the country, which can place orders up to four times a year using the DVDMS platform.

Patel concluded by affirming that paracetamol remains part of the essential drug inventory and that robust systems are in place to ensure its uninterrupted supply across India.