WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines
The WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines are updated every two years by the Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines.
The first Essential Medicines List was published in 1977, and the first Essential Medicines List for Children was published in 2007.
The current versions, updated in September 2025, are the 24th Essential Medicines List (EML) and the 10th Essential Medicines List for Children (EMLc).
Current lists
Essential Medicines List
Essential Medicines List for Children
The selection and use of essential medicines, 2025: report of the 25th WHO Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines, executive summary
The selection and use of essential medicines, 2025: WHO AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification of antibiotics for evaluation and monitoring of use
Previous lists
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WHO Model List of Essential Medicines - 22nd list, 2021
Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population. They are selected with due regard to disease prevalence and...
Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population. They are selected with due regard to disease prevalence and...
WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children - 8th list, 2021
Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population. They are selected with due regard to disease prevalence and...
Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population. They are selected with due regard to disease prevalence...
Publications
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The selection and use of essential medicines, 2025: WHO AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification...
he AWaRe classification is intended as a tool for monitoring antibiotic consumption, defining targets and monitoring the effects of stewardship policies...
The selection and use of essential medicines, 2025: WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children,...
Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population. They are selected with due regard to disease prevalence and...
The selection and use of essential medicines, 2025: WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th list
Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population. They are selected with due regard to disease prevalence and...
The selection and use of essential medicines, 2025: report of the 25th WHO Expert Committee on Selection...
This executive summary reports the recommendations made by the Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines for the 2025 update of the...