The 7th National Formulary of India (NFI) 2026 was launched on September 21, 2026, by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel, bringing updated clinical guidance on 653 medicines for healthcare professionals across the country. The launch took place at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi during the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week campaign.
Alongside the NFI, Patel unveiled a new Biovigilance Programme of India, approved by the government to strengthen monitoring of adverse events linked to biological products and organ and tissue transplantation. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) will lead the programme, working alongside a Guidance Document for Hospitals on Safety Monitoring and Reporting of Medical Device-Related Adverse Events, and the newly launched ADR-PvPI 2.0 mobile app for iOS.
What Does the 7th National Formulary of India Cover?
The NFI 2026 serves as a standard reference for prescribers, pharmacists, and pharmacy educators, offering evidence-based guidance on 653 medicines to promote rational drug use in clinical practice. The seventh edition has also been made available digitally through the NFI Online platform, widening access for healthcare workers beyond hospitals with physical copies. This is the first major update to the formulary since prior editions, reflecting newer drug approvals and revised clinical protocols.
What Do Health Officials and Experts Say?
Officials at the launch, including representatives from the WHO India office, emphasised that a “culture of safety” is central to preventing medication-related risks, underscoring why pharmacovigilance and biovigilance frameworks matter alongside prescribing guidance. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission positioned the Biovigilance Programme as a natural extension of India’s existing Pharmacovigilance Programme, extending oversight beyond conventional drugs to biological products and transplantation-related safety events.
Market and Trade Reaction
The pharmaceutical and hospital sectors are expected to adjust prescribing and procurement references to align with the updated formulary, particularly hospital pharmacy departments and pharmacy education institutions that use the NFI as a core teaching and reference text. Medical device manufacturers and hospitals will also need to align internal safety-reporting processes with the newly issued hospital guidance document on device-related adverse events.
What Happens Next?
The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission is expected to roll out training and outreach for the Biovigilance Programme in the coming months, alongside continued promotion of the ADR-PvPI 2.0 app for adverse-event reporting. Healthcare institutions are being encouraged to transition prescribing references to the 7th edition of the NFI and begin using NFI Online for real-time updates as further revisions are issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Formulary of India 2026?
It is the 7th edition of India’s standard drug reference publication, launched on September 21, 2026, containing updated clinical guidance on 653 medicines for healthcare professionals and pharmacy educators.
What is the Biovigilance Programme of India?
It is a newly approved government programme, led by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, to strengthen reporting, assessment, and monitoring of adverse events linked to biological products, organ transplants, and tissue transplantation.
Where can healthcare professionals access the new formulary?
The 7th edition of the National Formulary of India is available both in print and digitally through the NFI Online platform, alongside the newly launched ADR-PvPI 2.0 mobile app for adverse drug reaction reporting.
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