Health
Anupriya Patel launches 7th National Formulary of India
The government launched the 7th National Formulary of India (NFI 2026) on September 21 alongside a new Biovigilance Programme, with Minister of State Anupriya Patel presenting updated guidance on 653 medicines to strengthen patient and medicine safety.
Union Minister of State Anupriya Patel launched the 7th edition of the National Formulary of India on September 21.
The launch took place at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
It coincided with the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week campaign.
The new edition covers 653 drug monographs across 34 chapters.
A new Biovigilance Programme was also approved alongside the launch.
It also includes 42 fixed-dose combinations and 30 immunological products.
The National Formulary of India is a reference publication containing standard information on medicines used in the country.
It is designed to assist doctors, pharmacists, healthcare professionals, teachers and students in the appropriate use of medicines.
The 7th edition has been made available digitally through NFI Online.
The digital version links to information on National Health Programmes, immunisation schedules and Jan Aushadhi.
It also includes guidance on the safe disposal of unused or expired pharmaceutical products.
Alongside the NFI launch, the government approved a new Biovigilance Programme of India.
Under the Biovigilance Programme, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission will strengthen reporting, assessment, monitoring and prevention of adverse events linked to medicines and biological products.
The Biovigilance Programme also covers products used in organ and tissue transplantation, including those administered to donors and recipients.
The initiative is intended to widen India’s overall patient-safety net.
The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission is the national body responsible for setting standards for drugs manufactured and sold in India.
Pharmacovigilance refers to the science of detecting, assessing and preventing adverse effects associated with medicines.
The National Pharmacovigilance Week campaign is held annually to raise awareness about reporting adverse drug reactions.
Earlier editions of the National Formulary of India have been used as a reference by prescribers across government and private healthcare settings.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare oversees national programmes related to drug safety and regulation in India.
Pharmacy in India (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0