What are essential medicines?
“Essential medicines are those that effectively and safely treat the priority healthcare needs of the population. They are selected by taking into consideration public health relevance, evidence of benefits and harms, and with consideration of costs, affordability and other relevant factors.”
About the Commission
A renewed commitment to equity and access
The 1977 WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and the WHO Action Programme are one of the most influential public health achievements of the 20th century.
The concept of essential medicines implies a commitment to equity and efficiency; it has been implemented in over 150 countries.
Essential medicines policies promote the selection, financing, procurement, supply, prescription, dispensing and use of medicines with the goal of addressing the priority health needs of the population.
Rapid changes in pharmaceutical innovation, manufacturing and increasing cost to society demand that important choices be made about the future of the concept, particularly as countries attempt to implement universal health coverage.