Refocusing the World Health Organization’s Model List of Essential Medicines on the needs of low and middle income countries

First published in 1977, the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines has been one of the most effective and recognised tools to promote equitable access to medicines, prioritising those that satisfy the health priorities of the population.12 Essential medicines are “selected with due regard of public health relevance, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness.”3 The list is updated every two years; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of WHO, announced publication of the 23rd Model List of Essential Medicines in July 2023. This version sets a new record for the number of medicines included (502).4 The children’s list, which now includes 361 medicines, was first published in 2007 to consider children’s medicines needs more systematically and has since been published every two years alongside the main model list.45

The inclusion of many high priced medicines over the past decade has prompted debate about the focus …