The selection and use of essential medicines, 2025: report of the 25th WHO Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines, executive summary

Overview

This executive summary reports the recommendations made by the Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines for the 2025 update of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and the Model List of Essential Medicine for Children (EMLc).

The meeting of the 25th WHO Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 5 to 9 May 2025. The Committee considered 59 applications proposing additions, changes and deletions of medicines, medicine classes and formulation on the Model Lists of Essential Medicines. The Expert Committee evaluated the scientific evidence for comparative effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of the medicines in question. The Committee also considered a review of the age-appropriateness of formulations of essential medicines for children, a proposed revision of the AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) definitions, classification and reclassification of antibiotics, and other matters relevant to the selection and use of essential medicine.