WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines(EML) 2023

WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines

The WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines are updated every two years by the Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines. The first Essential Medicines List was published in 1977, and the first Essential Medicines List for Children was published in 2007. The current versions, updated in July 2023, are the 23^rd Essential Medicines List (EML) and the 9^th Essential Medicines List for Children (EMLc).

Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population. They are selected with due regard to disease prevalence and public health relevance, evidence of efficacy and safety and comparative cost-effectiveness. They are intended to be available in functioning health systems at all times, in appropriate dosage forms, of assured quality and at prices individuals and health systems can afford.

Selection of a limited number of essential medicines as essential, taking into consideration national disease burden and clinical need can lead to improved access through streamlined procurement and distribution of quality-assured medicines, support more rational or appropriate prescribing and use and lower costs for both health care systems and for patients (WHO).

Lists of Essential Medicines

• BCG vaccine
• Japanese encephalitis vaccine
• Abacavir
• Abacavir + lamivudine
• Abacavir + lamivudine + lopinavir + ritonavir
• Abiraterone
• Acetazolamide
• Acetic acid
• Acetylcysteine
• Acetylsalicylic acid
• Aciclovir
• Aclidinium
• Activated charcoal
• Adalimumab
• Afatinib
• Albendazole
• Alcohol based hand rub
• Alcuronium
• All-trans retinoic acid
• Allopurinol
• Alteplase
• Amidotrizoate
• Amikacin
• Amiloride
• Amiodarone
• Amitriptyline
• Amlodipine
• Amodiaquine
• Amodiaquine + sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine
• Amoxicillin
• Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid
• Amphotericin B
• Ampicillin
• Anakinra
• Anastrozole
• Anidulafungin
• Anti-d immunoglobulin
• Anti-rabies immunoglobulin
• Anti-rabies virus monoclonal antibodies
• Anti-tetanus immunoglobulin
• Antirabies hyperimmune serum
• Antivenom immunoglobulin
• Antivenom sera
• Apixaban
• Aprepitant
• Arsenic trioxide
• Artemether
• Artemether + lumefantrine
• Artesunate
• Artesunate + amodiaquine
• Artesunate + mefloquine
• Artesunate + pyronaridine tetraphosphate
• Ascorbic acid
• Asparaginase
• Atazanavir
• Atazanavir + ritonavir
• Atenolol
• Atezolizumab
• Atorvastatin
• Atracurium
• Atropine
• Azacitidine
• Azathioprine
• Azithromycin
• Aztreonam
• Barium sulfate
• Beclometasone
• Beclometasone + formoterol
• Bedaquiline
• Bendamustine
• Benzathine benzylpenicillin
• Benznidazole
• Benzoic acid + salicylic acid
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Benzyl benzoate
• Benzylpenicillin
• Betamethasone
• Bevacizumab
• Bicalutamide
• Binimetinib
• Biperiden
• Bisacodyl
• Bisoprolol
• Bleomycin
• Bortezomib
• Bromocriptine
• Budesonide
• Budesonide + formoterol
• Budesonide + salmeterol
• Bupivacaine
• Buprenorphine
• Bupropion
• C1 esterase inhibitor
• Cabergoline
• Caffeine citrate
• Calamine
• Calcipotriol
• Calcitriol
• Calcium
• Calcium folinate (leucovorin calcium)
• Calcium gluconate
• Canagliflozin
• Capecitabine
• Capreomycin
• Captopril
• Carbachol
• Carbamazepine
• Carbetocin
• Carbimazole
• Carboplatin
• Carvedilol
• Caspofungin
• Cefalexin
• Cefazolin
• Cefepime
• Cefiderocol
• Cefixime
• Cefotaxime
• Ceftaroline
• Ceftazidime
• Ceftazidime + avibactam
• Ceftolozane + tazobactam
• Ceftriaxone
• Cefuroxime
• Cetirizine
• Chlorambucil
• Chloramphenicol
• Chlorhexidine
• Chlorine base compound
• Chloroquine
• Chlorothiazide
• Chloroxylenol
• Chlorpromazine
• Chlortalidone
• Chlortetracycline
• Cholera vaccine
• Ciclesonide
• Ciclosporin
• Cimetidine
• Ciprofloxacin
• Cisplatin
• Clarithromycin
• Clindamycin
• Clofazimine
• Clomifene
• Clomipramine
• Clonazepam
• Clopidogrel
• Clotrimazole
• Cloxacillin
• Clozapine
• Coagulation factor IX
• Coagulation factor VIII
• Coal tar
• Cobicistat + elvitegravir + emtricitabine + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
• Cobicistat + elvitegravir + emtricitabine+ tenofovir alafenamide
• Cobimetinib
• Codeine
• Colchicine
• Colecalciferol
• Colistin (injection)
• Compound sodium lactate solution
• Condoms
• Copper-containing intrauterine device
• Crizotinib
• Cyanocobalamin
• Cyclizine
• Cyclopentolate
• Cyclophosphamide
• Cycloserine
• Cytarabine
• Dabigatran
• Dabrafenib
• Dacarbazine
• Daclatasvir
• Daclatasvir + sofosbuvir
• Dactinomycin
• Dalteparin
• Dapagliflozin
• Dapsone
• Daptomycin
• Daratumumab
• Darbepoetin alfa
• Darunavir
• Dasabuvir
• Dasatinib
• Daunorubicin
• Deferoxamine
• Delafloxacin
• Delamanid
• Dengue vaccine
• Desmopressin
• Dexamethasone
• Dextran 40
• Dextran 70
• Diaphragms
• Diazepam
• Diazoxide
• Didanosine
• Diethylcarbamazine
• Digitoxin
• Digoxin
• Dihydroartemisinin + piperaquine phosphate
• Dihydroergocryptine mesylate
• Diloxanide
• Dimercaprol
• Diphtheria antitoxin
• Diphtheria vaccine
• Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine
• Diphtheria-tetanus vaccine
• Docetaxel
• Docusate sodium
• Dolasetron
• Dolutegravir
• Dolutegravir + lamivudine + tenofovir
• Dopamine
• Doxorubicin
• Doxycycline
• Durvalumab
• Edoxaban
• Efavirenz
• Efavirenz + emtricitabine + tenofovir
• Efavirenz + lamivudine + tenofovir
• Eflornithine
• Elbasvir + grazoprevir
• Empagliflozin
• Emtricitabine
• Emtricitabine + rilpivirine + tenofovir alafenamide
• Emtricitabine + rilpivirine + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
• Emtricitabine + tenofovir
• Emtricitabine + tenofovir alafenamide
• Enalapril
• Encorafenib
• Enoxaparin
• Entecavir
• Enzalutamide
• Ephedrine
• Epinephrine
• Epoetin alfa
• Epoetin beta
• Epoetin theta
• Equine rabies immunoglobulin
• Eravacycline
• Ergocalciferol
• Ergometrine
• Erlotinib
• Erythromycin
• Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents
• Estradiol cypionate + medroxyprogesterone acetate
• Ethambutol
• Ethambutol + isoniazid
• Ethambutol + isoniazid + pyrazinamide + rifampicin
• Ethambutol + isoniazid + rifampicin
• Ethanol
• Ether
• Ethinylestradiol + etonogestrel
• Ethinylestradiol + levonorgestrel
• Ethinylestradiol + norethisterone
• Ethionamide
• Ethosuximide
• Etonogestrel-releasing implant
• Etoposide
• Everolimus
• Fentanyl
• Ferrous salt
• Ferrous salt + folic acid
• Fexinidazole
• Fexofenadine
• Fifth generation cephalosporins
• Filgrastim
• Fingolimod
• Fluconazole
• Flucytosine
• Fludarabine
• Fludrocortisone
• Flunisolide
• Fluorescein
• Fluoride
• Fluorouracil
• Fluoxetine
• Fluphenazine
• Flutamide
• Fluticasone
• Fluticasone + formoterol
• Fluticasone furoate + vilanterol
• Fluvastatin
• Folic acid
• Fomepizole
• Fosfomycin (injection)
• Fourth generation cephalosporins
• Fresh-frozen plasma
• Fulvestrant
• Furosemide
• Gabapentin
• Gallamine
• Gatifloxacin
• Gefitinib
• Gemcitabine
• Gentamicin
• Glass ionomer cement
• Glatiramer acetate
• Glecaprevir + pibrentasvir
• Glibenclamide
• Gliclazide
• Glucagon
• Glucose
• Glucose + sodium chloride
• Glutaral
• Glyceryl trinitrate
• Glycopyrronium
• Goserelin
• Granisetron
• Griseofulvin
• Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
• Haloperidol
• Halothane
• Heparin sodium
• Hepatitis a vaccine
• Hepatitis b vaccine
• Homatropine
• Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine
• Hydralazine
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Hydrocortisone
• Hydromorphone
• Hydroxocobalamin
• Hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea)
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Hyoscine butylbromide
• Hyoscine hydrobromide
• Hypochlorous acid
• Ibrutinib
• Ibuprofen
• Idoxuridine
• Ifosfamide
• Imatinib
• Imipenem + cilastatin
• Indapamide
• Indinavir
• Indometacin
• Influenza vaccine (seasonal)
• Insulin
• Insulin analogues
• Insulin degludec
• Insulin detemir
• Insulin glargine
• Intermediate-acting insulin
• Intraperitoneal dialysis solution
• Iodine
• Iohexol
• Ipecacuanha
• Ipratropium bromide
• Irinotecan
• Isoflurane
• Isoniazid
• Isoniazid + pyrazinamide + rifampicin
• Isoniazid + pyridoxine + sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim
• Isoniazid + rifampicin
• Isoniazid + rifapentine
• Isoprenaline
• Isosorbide dinitrate
• Itraconazole
• Ivermectin
• Kanamycin
• Kanamycin (injection)
• Ketamine
• Lactulose
• Lamivudine
• Lamivudine + nevirapine + zidovudine
• Lamivudine + tenofovir
• Lamivudine + zidovudine
• Lamotrigine
• Latanoprost
• Ledipasvir + sofosbuvir
• Lenalidomide
• Leuprorelin
• Levamisole
• Levodopa
• Levodopa + benserazide
• Levodopa + carbidopa
• Levofloxacin
• Levonorgestrel
• Levonorgestrel-releasing implant
• Levothyroxine
• Lidocaine
• Lidocaine + epinephrine
• Lindane
• Linezolid
• Lisinopril + amlodipine
• Lisinopril + hydrochlorothiazide
• Lithium carbonate
• Long-acting insulin analogues
• Loperamide
• Lopinavir + ritonavir
• Loratadine
• Lorazepam
• Losartan
• Lovastatin
• Lugol’s solution
• Magnesium sulfate
• Mannitol
• Measles vaccine
• Mebendazole
• Medroxyprogesterone acetate
• Mefloquine
• Meglumine antimoniate
• Meglumine iotroxate
• Melarsoprol
• Melphalan
• Meningococcal meningitis vaccine
• Mercaptopurine
• Meropenem
• Meropenem + vaborbactam
• Mesalazine
• Mesna
• Metformin
• Methadone
• Methimazole
• Methionine
• Methotrexate
• Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
• Methyldopa
• Methylergometrine
• Methylphenidate
• Methylprednisolone
• Methylthioninium chloride
• Metoclopramide
• Metoprolol
• Metronidazole
• Micafungin
• Miconazole
• Midazolam
• Mifepristone – misoprostol
• Miltefosine
• Misoprostol
• Mometasone
• Mometasone + formoterol
• Morphine
• Moxifloxacin
• Multiple micronutrient powder
• Multiple micronutrient supplement
• Mumps vaccine
• Mupirocin
• Nadroparin
• Nalidixic acid
• Naloxone
• Natamycin
• Nelfinavir
• Neostigmine
• Netilmicin
• Nevirapine
• Niclosamide
• Nicotinamide
• Nicotine replacement therapy
• Nifedipine
• Nifurtimox
• Nilotinib
• Nilutamide
• Nitrofurantoin
• Nitrous oxide
• Nivolumab
• Norethisterone
• Norethisterone enantate
• Normal immunoglobulin
• Nystatin
• Ocrelizumab
• Ofloxacin
• Omadacycline
• Ombitasvir + paritaprevir + ritonavir
• Omeprazole
• Ondansetron
• Oral rehydration salts
• Oral rehydration salts – zinc sulfate
• Oseltamivir
• Osimertinib
• Oxaliplatin
• Oxamniquine
• Oxazolindinones
• Oxycodone
• Oxygen
• Oxytetracycline
• Oxytocin
• P-aminosalicylic acid
• Paclitaxel
• Palbociclib
• Paliperidone
• Palonosetron
• Pancreatic enzymes
• Paracetamol (acetaminophen)
• Paromomycin
• Pegaspargase
• Pegylated interferon alfa (2a)
• Pegylated interferon alfa (2b)
• Pembrolizumab
• Penicillamine
• Pentamidine
• Permethrin
• Pertussis vaccine
• Pertuzumab
• Phenobarbital
• Phenoxymethylpenicillin
• Phenytoin
• Phytomenadione
• Pilocarpine
• Piperacillin + tazobactam
• Platelets
• Plazomicin
• Pneumococcal vaccine
• Podophyllotoxin
• Podophyllum resin
• Poliomyelitis vaccine
• Polygeline
• Polymyxin B (injection)
• Polymyxins
• Potassium chloride
• Potassium ferric hexacyanoferrate
• Potassium iodide
• Potassium permanganate
• Povidone iodine
• Pralidoxime
• Pramipexole
• Pravastatin
• Praziquantel
• Precipitated sulfur
• Prednisolone
• Prednisone
• Primaquine
• Probenecid
• Procainamide
• Procaine benzylpenicillin
• Procarbazine
• Progesterone vaginal ring
• Proguanil
• Promethazine
• Propanol
• Propofol
• Propranolol
• Propylthiouracil
• Prostaglandin E1
• Prostaglandin E2
• Protamine sulfate
• Pyrantel
• Pyrazinamide
• Pyridostigmine
• Pyridoxine
• Pyrimethamine
• Quinidine
• Quinine
• Rabies vaccine
• Raltegravir
• Ranibizumab
• Ranitidine
• Rasburicase
• Ready to use therapeutic food
• Realgar-indigo naturalis formulation
• Red blood cells
• Retinol
• Ribavirin
• Riboflavin
• Rifabutin
• Rifampicin
• Rifapentine
• Risperidone
• Ritonavir
• Rituximab
• Rivaroxaban
• Ropinirole
• Rotavirus vaccine
• Rubella vaccine
• Salbutamol
• Salicylic acid
• Saquinavir
• Selenium sulfide
• Senna
• Silver diamine fluoride
• Silver nitrate
• Silver sulfadiazine
• Simeprevir
• Simvastatin
• Smallpox vaccine
• Snake antivenom
• Sodium calcium edetate
• Sodium chloride
• Sodium hydrogen carbonate
• Sodium nitrite
• Sodium nitroprusside
• Sodium stibogluconate
• Sodium thiosulfate
• Sofosbuvir
• Sofosbuvir + velpatasvir
• Spectinomycin
• Spironolactone
• Stavudine
• Streptokinase
• Streptomycin (injection)
• Succimer
• Sulfacetamide
• Sulfadiazine
• Sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine
• Sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim
• Sulfasalazine
• Sumatriptan
• Suramin sodium
• Surfactant
• Suxamethonium
• Tacalcitol
• Tacrolimus
• Tamoxifen
• Telmisartan + amlodipine
• Telmisartan + hydrochlorothiazide
• Tenofovir alafenamide
• Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
• Terbinafine
• Terbutaline
• Terizidone
• Testosterone
• Tetanus antitoxin
• Tetanus vaccine
• Tetracaine
• Tetracycline
• Thalidomide
• Thiamine
• Thiopental
• Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine
• Tigecycline
• Timolol
• Tioguanine
• Tiotropium bromide
• Tislelizumab
• Tobramycin
• Tocilizumab
• Tolbutamide
• Tramadol
• Trametinib
• Tranexamic acid
• Trastuzumab
• Trastuzumab emtansine
• Triamcinolone hexacetonide
• Triclabendazole
• Trihexyphenidyl
• Trimethoprim
• Triptorelin
• Tropicamide
• Tropisetron
• Tuberculin, purified protein derivative
• Tubocurarine
• Typhoid vaccine
• Ulipristal
• Umeclidinium
• Urea
• Valaciclovir
• Valganciclovir
• Valproic acid (sodium valproate)
• Vancomycin
• Varenicline
• Varicella vaccine
• Vecuronium
• Vemurafenib
• Verapamil
• Vinblastine
• Vincristine
• Vinorelbine
• Voriconazole
• Warfarin
• Water for injection
• Whole blood
• Xylometazoline
• Yellow fever vaccine
• Zanubrutinib
• Zidovudine
• Zinc sulfate
• Zoledronic acid