Govt launches 7th edition of the National Formulary of India

• Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Anupriya Patel launched the 7th edition of the National Formulary of India (NFI).

• It was launched at the sixth National Pharmacovigilance Week programme organised by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) in New Delhi on September 21.

• The sixth National Pharmacovigilance Week is observed from September 17 to 23 with the theme “Promoting Rational Use of Medicines through Pharmacovigilance: A Step Towards Safer Healthcare”.

What is National Formulary of India?

• The National Formulary of India (NFI) has been published periodically by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) since 2009.

• It is an authoritative guide to prescribing, dispensing and administering medicines for healthcare professionals. 

• It will be useful for framing national drug policies in the country.

• The first edition of NFI was published in 1960.

• The NFI 2026 comprises 34 chapters, 20 appendices and 653 drugs, including 42 fixed-dose combinations and 30 immunologicals. 

• Drug monographs have been revised to align with the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and National Health Programmes.

• The NFI serves as an important bridge between scientific standards and clinical practice, guiding healthcare professionals in the appropriate and rational use of medicines.

• The launch of its seventh edition marks another step towards enabling healthcare professionals to make informed, evidence-based decisions while prescribing and using medicines.

• In addition to the print edition, the NFI is available digitally and provides access to important links relating to National Health Programmes, immunisation schedules, Jan Aushadhi, safe disposal of unused or expired pharmaceutical products and other authoritative regulatory resources.