Healthy Skepticism Library item: 10483

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Laing R, Waning B, Gray A, Ford N, 't Hoen E.
25 years of the WHO essential medicines lists: progress and challenges.
Lancet 2003 May 17; 361:(9370):1723-9
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673603133752

Abstract:

The first WHO essential drugs list, published in 1977, was described as a peaceful revolution in international public health. The list helped to establish the principle that some medicines were more useful than others and that essential medicines were often inaccessible to many populations. Since then, the essential medicines list (EML) has increased in size; defining an essential medicine has moved from an experience to an evidence-based process, including criteria such as public-health relevance, efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. High priced medicines such as antiretrovirals are now included. Differences exist between the WHO model EML and national EMLs since countries face varying challenges relating to costs, drug effectiveness, morbidity patterns, and rationality of prescribing. Ensuring equitable access to and rational use of essential medicines has been promoted through WHO’s revised drug strategy. This approach has required an engagement by WHO on issues such as the effect of international trade agreements on access to essential medicines and research and development to ensure availability of new essential medicines.

Keywords:
Consumer Advocacy/trends Forecasting Guidelines Health Care Reform/trends Health Services Accessibility/organization & administration Health Services Accessibility/trends History, 20th Century History, 21st Century Humans Intellectual Property Models, Organizational Pharmaceutical Preparations/classification Pharmaceutical Preparations/history Pharmaceutical Preparations/standards* Policy Making South Africa World Health Organization*/history