The health department has decided to change the essential drug list used to procure and dispense free medicines to patients at state-run facilties.

The decision to change the list was taken after Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs, a private agency, recently carried out a prescription audit in state hospitals and recommended alterations to the essential drug list. It also pointed out that the procurement of the drugs should be streamlined.

“We will soon constitute an expert standing committee to look into suggestions given by the agency. We too feel that essential drug list should be revised with changing times as healthcare needs have changed,” said a senior health department official.

At present, the essential drug list has 41 medicines for outpatient departments, 193 for indoor departments and 30 for operating theatres.

Besides pointing out the shoddy state of healthcare in Bihar, the private agency’s report claimed: “As concept regarding the list is poor in the state, doctors should be sensitised to essential medicine concept.”

Sources said an important change could be preparing updated lists for primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities. At present, the state has a common list for district hospitals and primary healthcare centres, which does not meet the requirement of district-level hospitals. Also, some drugs which listed for district hospitals and primary healthcare centres are not listed for tertiary facilities such as medical colleges. The official said all these factors would be taken into account by the committee.