ICMR releases draft of India’s first essential diagnostics list

In a bid to ensure quality diagnostics at all level of healthcare facilities, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has formulated draft of new National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL).

“The list is on the lines of the drug list. It is a scientifically designed list, which has been based on the World Health Organization’s list of essential diagnostics for key areas like HIV and hepatitis, but it also takes into account the priority areas of non-communicable diseases and diseases prone to outbreaks such as dengue,” Dr Kamini Walia, senior scientist at ICMR was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying.

ICMR, the research body of the Union Health Ministry is responsible for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research in India. However, it is not the implementing authority and cannot fix prices of the test.

“The list prepared by ICMR may be considered by the committee that is in the process of developing the new national medicine list for 2018. If the diagnostic list is included, the prices will be regulated under the Drug Price Control Order, 2013,” said a senior official from the country’s apex drug regulator Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

The draft list which was prepared after two national consultation of stakeholder and a consultation with device manufacturers this year has been put out for public consultation. Many a tests have been included in the list including 130 general laboratory tests and 26 disease-specific tests, which includes tests for HIV, hepatitis, dengue, and malaria.

At the primary healthcare (PHC) level, the list includes electrocardiography (ECG) for diagnosing heart disease and X-ray.

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15-12-2018

By Mukul