GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government has expanded its Essential Drug List (EDL) for 2025–26 by adding 150 medicines following a review of the existing list, a move aimed at strengthening the availability of free treatment across public healthcare facilities in the state.
Announcing the decision, state Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said the revised list now includes 1, 479 essential medicines, including surgical items and diagnostic supplies, that will be provided free of cost to patients through the public health system.
The list earlier contained 1, 386 medicines during 2024–25.
The revision was carried out by Gujarat Medical Services Corporation Limited (GMSCL) after reviewing the medicines currently in use across government facilities.
As part of the process, 150 new medicines were added while 57 medicines considered unnecessary after review were removed from the list.
Pansheriya said the medicines included in the EDL are supplied across all levels of public healthcare facilities, ranging from primary health centres in rural and urban areas to district hospitals and hospitals attached to medical colleges.