Health products policy and standards

Our team provides authoritative guidance and standards on quality, safety and efficacy of health products and supports countries to formulate evidence-based policies and ensure good practice throughout the value chain.

About us

Highlights

Ministry of Health staff at their office in Port Vila

Events

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21 – 24 April 2026

82nd INN Consultation

Health Product Policy and Standards (HPS)

21 April 2026 09:00 – 10:30 UTC Time

INN Session with INN stakeholders

28 – 29 April 2026

59th meeting of the WHO International Working Group for Drug Statistics Methodology

News

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19 December 2025

Departmental update

Belgium and WHO sign new agreement to boost global equitable access to health products and technologies

11 December 2025

Feature story

Learning on TAP: improving access to assistive technology in Tanzania

10 December 2025

Departmental update

WHO Expert Committee concludes critical review of coca leaf, recommends maintaining current controls

Calls for

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24 June 2025

Call for submissions

Public notice and comments on the Technical Advisory Group on the use of digital technologies to enhance access to assistive technology

2 May 2025

Call for consultation

Call for public consultation - Defining the term “diagnostics”

2 May 2025

Call for experts

Call for Experts - Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Medical Devices (STAG MEDEV)

Expert Committees

Advisory groups

Databases

Antibiotic characterization (AWaRe)

Assistive Technology Data Portal

ATC/DDD Index

International Pharmacopoeia

Model list of Essential Medicines

National Essential Medicines Lists

Model list of in Vitro Diagnostics

Priority Medical Devices Information System

ECDD Information repository

Medicine Prices and Other Market Information Sources

Publications

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Assistive technology progress assessment questionnaire: tracking progress on access to assistive technology

In May 2018, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted resolution WHA71.8 on improving access to assistive technology. The resolution urges Member States...

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Development of medical device policies, 2nd ed.

A first edition of the Development of Medical Devices Policies was published in 2011. This second edition was prepared to reflect the transition from the...

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Improving access to assistive technology in United Republic of Tanzania (2022-2023): project report

The report summarizes a collaboration between the Ministry of Health of the United Republic of Tanzania, HelpAge Tanzania and the World Health Organization...

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Enabling rapid access to essential assistive technology in Ukraine (2022-2023): project report

This report summarizes a collaboration between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 and 2023. The goal was...

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