Sanitary napkins, diapers likely to be included in essential drugs list

Sub-committees were formed earlier to categorise medicines, medical devices, disposables, and other health and hygiene products according to how essential they are for healthcare

The Centre has initiated the process to finalise a list of commonly used hygiene products, which will be put in the National list of Essential Medicines (NLEM). The list will include products like sanitary napkins, adult diapers, floor disinfectants and soaps among others.

According to a report in the Economic Times, in 2019, the government decided to widen NLEM's basket by including health and hygiene products. However, owing to Coronavirus pandemic, nothing was finalised. As the number of daily Covid infections decline, the government has now asked a committee of experts to continue with the meetings to shortlist the products, in