WHO-Approved Essential Medicines

Source: World Health Organization, 26 July 2023 — the Expert Committee’s update brought the totals to 502 medicines on the EML and 361 on the EMLc. These figures count discrete essential medicine entries (including fixed-dose combinations where listed as one item), as published in WHO’s official documents.

Essential medicines for self-care (WHO guideline & eEML database)

WHO maintains a dedicated Model List of Essential Medicines for Self-Care for medicines that may be used in self-care where national law and counselling allow. The official WHO database for every strength, form, indication, and list-type flag is the Electronic Essential Medicines List (eEML). Normative policy and recommendations sit in the WHO guideline on self-care interventions for health and well-being (2022 revision) and the living guideline (MAGICapp).

How to obtain the complete Essential medicines for self-care list from eEML

1. Open list.essentialmeds.org (WHO eEML).
2. Click Export (top of the page).
3. Choose Excel (XLSX), Word (DOCX), or PDF.
4. In the column options, ensure List type is selected (along with INN, formulations, and indications as needed).
5. Download the file and filter or sort rows where List type includes Essential medicines for self-care — that subset is the authoritative catalogue for this list type.

Also see: WHO Health Product Policy and Standards (Essential Medicines Secretariat: emlsecretariat@who.int).

Alphabetical INN index (self-care list type — reference copy)

The following single-line index merges the INNs from the table above for quick lookup. Authoritative rows (including removals after each WHO Expert Committee meeting) exist only in eEML — always reconcile with an export filtered by List type: Essential medicines for self-care.

Acetylsalicylic acid · Bisacodyl · Calcium carbonate · Carmellose (eye lubricant, as listed) · Cetirizine · Chlorhexidine · Chlorphenamine · Cholecalciferol · Clotrimazole · Ethanol · Ferrous salt (e.g. ferrous sulfate) · Folic acid · Hydrocortisone (topical) · Hypromellose (eye lubricant, as listed) · Ibuprofen · Loperamide · Loratadine · Magnesium hydroxide · Miconazole · Multiple micronutrient powder · Omeprazole · Oral rehydration salts · Paracetamol · Povidone-iodine · Salbutamol (inhalation, where listed for self-care) · Senna · Simethicone · Sodium chloride (nasal) · Zinc sulfate

CMS & ED and essential medicines

Community Medical Services & Essential Drugs (CMS & ED) focuses on primary-level care, prevention, and the rational use of medicines that address the greatest public health needs. WHO’s Model Lists are not a national prescription by themselves: countries adapt them to local burden of disease, budgets, and regulation. Training aligned with WHO principles helps graduates understand which medicines matter most, when to use them, and how to avoid overuse — especially of antibiotics (see AWaRe below).

What is an “essential” medicine?

WHO defines essential medicines as those that satisfy priority health care needs, chosen for public health relevance, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness. The lists are revised on a two-year cycle by an independent Expert Committee. The 2023 update alone considered 85 applications covering over a hundred medicines and formulations; 24 new medicines were added for adults and 12 for children, with additional new formulations and new uses for existing listings.

AWaRe classification (antibiotics)

For antibacterials, WHO groups medicines into Access (first- and second-line, narrow spectrum where possible), Watch (broader spectrum, higher resistance potential), and Reserve (last resort). CMS & ED–level practice emphasises correct first-line choices and avoiding unnecessary broad-spectrum use. The AWaRe database is published as an annex alongside the Model List.

Structure of the Model List (therapeutic sections)

The PDF lists medicines under main therapeutic chapters. Below is the standard chapter framework used in the WHO Model List (titles may be worded slightly differently across editions; always refer to the current PDF or eEML for exact subsection numbering).

Anti-infective block (Section 6) — typical subgroups

This is the largest block in most editions. WHO subdivides it (wording may vary) along lines such as:

• Intestinal anthelmintics — agents and regimens as listed in the current PDF/eEML
• Antibacterials — beta-lactams, macrolides, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, etc., with AWaRe labels
• Antifungal medicines — systemic and topical as listed
• Antiviral medicines — HIV, hepatitis, influenza, emerging pathogens as listed
• Antiprotozoal medicines — malaria, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, etc.
• Anti-infective combinations — tuberculosis fixed-dose combinations, HIV co-formulations, etc., as listed

Full Model List: where to find INNs

This page does not print a second roster of international nonproprietary names for the full 502-entry adult Model List — that would duplicate eEML and could go out of date between WHO meetings. For any named medicine on the general EML or EMLc, including indications, strengths, square-box notes, and AWaRe labels for antibacterials, use the eEML or the official WHO PDF. The only named medicine inventory on this page is the Essential medicines for self-care table and index, which matches the eEML list type of the same name.

How often does the list change?

WHO updates the Model Lists approximately every two years. The next editions after 2023 will add, remove, or reclassify items based on new evidence, affordability, and public health priorities. For CMS & ED study purposes, treat the latest WHO publication and your national essential medicines list as the living references.