Priority life-saving medicines for women and children

Overview

Improving maternal and child health is a global priority.

An estimated 7.6 million children under the age of five die every year and an estimated 1 000 women – most of them in developing countries– die every day due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.

Many of these deaths are due to conditions that could be prevented or treated with access to simple, affordable vaccines, contraceptives and medicines. However, the availability of medicines at public‐health facilities is often poor.