26 drugs dropped from 'essentials' list, at least one over cancer-causing fears.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday released a revised National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), in which 384 drugs from 27 categories do not feature, including ranitidine - often taken for acidity and other stomach-related ailments and sold under brand names like Rantac, Zinetac and Aciloc, but removed now over cancer-causing concerns.

In 2020 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had recalled all ranitidine products (injectable and oral) after the revelation of low-level N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) presence; according to a study published by the Indian Journal of Pharmacology N-Nitrosamines are associated with stomach, esophagus, nasopharynx, and bladder cancers.

As many as 34 drugs -including some anti-infectives like ivermectin, mupirocin and nicotine replacement therapy - have been added to the NLEM, taking the total drugs under it to 384.

Endocrine medicines and contraceptives fludrocortisone, ormeloxifene, insulin glargine and teneliglitin had also been added to the list. Montelukast, which acts on the respiratory tract, and ophthalmological drug Latanoprost are also in the list.