7th National Formulary of India 2026 Launched in New Delhi

The 7th edition of the National Formulary of India (NFI) 2026 was launched on September 21, 2026, at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The publication was unveiled by Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilisers, during the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week Campaign.

The updated National Formulary of India serves as an important reference for healthcare professionals, teachers and students and promotes the rational and safe use of medicines in clinical practice.

What is the National Formulary of India?

The National Formulary of India (NFI) is a reference publication containing standard and authoritative information on medicines used in India.

It is designed to assist doctors, pharmacists, healthcare professionals, teachers and students in the appropriate use of medicines and supports rational prescribing and safe medication practices.

Who Launched the 7th National Formulary of India?

The seventh edition was unveiled by Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilisers.

The launch took place during the 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week Campaign, linking the publication with wider efforts to promote medication safety and responsible use of medicines.

Role of Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) publishes the National Formulary of India and has issued regular updates to the series since 2008.

IPC works under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and plays an important role in establishing standards for medicines and supporting pharmacovigilance activities in India.

The updated NFI is intended to strengthen access to reliable information about medicines for healthcare professionals as well as medical and pharmacy students.

6th National Pharmacovigilance Week 2026

The 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week Campaign was organised from September 17 to 23, 2026.

The theme for the 2026 campaign is:

“Promoting Rational Use of Medicines through Pharmacovigilance: A Step Towards Safer Healthcare”

The campaign was coordinated by the National Coordination Centre-Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (NCC-PvPI) at the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission in Ghaziabad.

What is Pharmacovigilance?

Pharmacovigilance refers to activities related to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or other medicine-related problems.

An effective pharmacovigilance system helps identify potential safety concerns associated with medicines and promotes their safer and more rational use.

The National Formulary complements these objectives by providing standard information that can help healthcare professionals make informed decisions about medicines.

Previous Edition Launched in 2021

The 6th edition of the National Formulary of India was launched in October 2021.

The launch of the seventh edition in 2026 represents the latest update to the reference publication, ensuring that healthcare professionals and students have access to updated information relevant to medicine use and clinical practice.

Importance for Pharmacy Education

The National Formulary of India is also an important academic reference for students and teachers in medical and pharmacy institutions.

Ahead of the launch, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission urged the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) on September 1, 2026, to encourage PharmD colleges to participate in the launch and related scientific sessions.

The Pharmacy Council of India regulates pharmacy education in the country, including PharmD programmes.

Why is the NFI Important?

The National Formulary provides healthcare professionals with standard information that can support rational prescribing, appropriate medicine selection and safe use of medicines.

It also serves as an educational resource for students and teachers and complements India’s pharmacovigilance framework by promoting greater awareness about medicine safety.

Key Points for Exams

• 7th National Formulary of India (NFI) launched on September 21, 2026.
• Venue: Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
• Launched by Anupriya Patel.
• NFI is published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC).
• NFI promotes the rational and safe use of medicines.
• Previous 6th edition was launched in October 2021.
• IPC has published NFI updates since 2008.
• 6th National Pharmacovigilance Week: September 17–23, 2026.
• Theme: “Promoting Rational Use of Medicines through Pharmacovigilance: A Step Towards Safer Healthcare.”
• National Pharmacovigilance Week was coordinated by NCC-PvPI at IPC, Ghaziabad.
• Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) regulates pharmacy education, including PharmD programmes.