WHO list of essential medicines is created by international experts, which is updated every few years (2-4 years). Medicines which are efficacious and cost- effective are recommended to be included in this list. Rationality is a concept that has different meanings in different settings. For example, rationality in medical setting could be different from the customer point of view, which is influenced by culture and economy. WHO aims to promote rational drug use, hence, the organization introduced the concept of essential drugs. This would help an efficient supply of a limited number of drugs in the market. Eventually it will lead to reduced cost of health care and flow of safe, legalized drugs in the market. The essential drug list comprises of 250 drugs based on the disease distribution in the world. However, there is still a shortage of these drugs in some countries. Shortages could be due to irrational prescriptions, improper storage facilities, improper selection of drugs etc.

The drug industry is business oriented; they produce drugs only to sell in the market irrespective of the needs of the people. Most of the drugs available in the Indian markets are the ones that have been banned in their country of origin. For example, the drug Nimesulide is commonly available in India as a painkiller; however it has been banned in many developed countries. These giant pharmaceutical companies are also known to flood our markets with more multivitamins than essential drugs, creating a shortage of the essential drugs used to treat diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.

We would be requesting MIS data from all the medical colleges and hospitals that come under the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER). This data will comprise of the following components:

• Number of OPD registrations
• Number of In- patients
• Number of beds in the hospitals
• Sanctioned grant for the purchase of drugs/ surgical items/ X- ray films etc.
• Drugs not used for more than 6 months
• Departments and categories of staff
• Number of deaths etc.

The requested data would be analyzed to observe whether the drug utilization in these hospitals is appropriate, whether it follows the WHO guidelines, List of essential and non- essential drugs, whether the essential drugs is available to the people when they require them. These drugs should ideally be available to people all the time, as the Government purchases these drugs with the recommendation of the WHO.