Selection of essential medicines

Careful selection of a limited range of essential medicines results in a higher quality of care for patients, better management and use of medicines and more cost-effective use of health resources. Clinical guidelines and lists of essential medicines may improve the availability and proper use of medicines within health care systems.
Selection of medicines follows market approval of a pharmaceutical product which defines the availability of a medicine in a country. An essential medicines list may then be developed based on disease prevalence, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness. National reimbursement/health insurance schemes may use the same approach.
WHO supports countries in the selection of essential medicines by publishing the Model List of Essential Medicines, which serves as a guide to the development of national essential medicines lists. WHO is the secretariat for the Expert Committee on Selection and Use, the group of experts responsible for revising and updating the Model List of Essential Medicines.

• FINAL Report of the 18th Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Medicines (WHO TRS 965)
• Model List of Essential Medicines 2011

Proper use of essential medicines improves patient safety and limits unnecessary medical spending. WHO supports health-care professionals on the use of the medicines on the Model List of Essential Medicines by publishing the WHO Model Formulary. The Model Formulary provides information on use, dosage, adverse effects, contraindications, warnings and guidance on selecting the right medicine for a range of conditions.

• WHO Model Formulary 2008
• WHO Model Formulary for Children 2010