The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expanded its Model Lists of Essential Medicines (EML) and Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc) to include new treatments for cancer, diabetes, and other serious conditions.
The updated editions, released on Friday, mark the 24th edition of the WHO EML and the 10th edition of the EMLc. The lists, adopted in more than 150 countries, guide procurement, supply, and health insurance reimbursement schemes worldwide.
“The new editions of essential medicines lists mark a significant step toward expanding access to new medicines with proven clinical benefits,” said Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products.
This year’s revisions followed a review of 59 applications, including 31 proposals for new medicines or medicine classes. As a result, 20 new medicines were added to the EML and 15 to the EMLc, with new use indications granted for seven existing products. The lists now feature 523 essential medicines for adults and 374 for children, reflecting the most pressing global health needs.
The updated lists include treatments for various cancers, diabetes with comorbidities such as obesity, as well as medicines for cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, haemophilia, and blood-related disorders.
Cancer, which kills nearly 10 million people annually and causes one in three premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases, has remained a key focus of the EML over the past decade. While many cancer drugs are approved globally, the WHO lists only those therapies that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to extend life by at least four to six months.
First launched in 1977 to improve access to medicines in developing countries, the WHO essential medicines lists have since become one of the most trusted global policy tools for strengthening healthcare systems.
