WHO Expands Essential Medicines List with High-Impact Cancer and Diabetes Treatments
SDG 3: Good Health & Well-being
Institution: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated editions of its Model Lists of Essential Medicines (EML) and for Children (EMLc), incorporating key new treatments across non-communicable diseases. This 24th edition of the adult list and the 10th edition for children include newly added medications for various cancers, advanced diabetes therapies targeting comorbidities like cardiovascular and kidney disease, obesity, as well as treatments for cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, haemophilia, and blood disorders. Notably, more than 20 new medicines have been added to the EML and 15 new ones to the EMLc, with new indications for seven existing products. The updated lists now comprise 523 essential medicines for adults and 374 for children. By serving as a global procurement and reimbursement benchmark across 150+ countries, these lists can catalyse expanded access to clinically impactful, high-cost treatments, especially as patent expirations may encourage generic availability.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How can India align its procurement, price regulation, and domestic pharma innovation with the WHO Essential Medicines update to expand access to high-cost cancer and diabetes treatments, while preventing inequities between public and private healthcare systems?
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https://www.who.int/news/item/05-09-2025-who-updates-list-of-essential-medicines-to-include-key-cancer--diabetes-treatments