E-DRUG: New World Medicines Situation Chapter on Selection of Essential Medicines
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To all E-Druggers,
I am pleased to announce the publication of the new World Medicines Situation chapter on Selection of Essential Medicines. The chapter was written by Rianne van den Ham from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, Lisa Bero from the University of California, San Francisco, USA, and Richard Laing from the Department of Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies, WHO, Geneva.
To download the chapter go to http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/m/abstract/Js18770en/ .
The abstract for the chapter reads:
- Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health-care needs of the population. - - - -- Essential medicines lists (EMLs) support the systematic delivery of medicines in the health-care system;
- The selection process of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines has evolved since 1977 from expert evaluation to evidence-based selection that includes: systematic review of evidence of efficacy and safety; consideration of public health needs, availability and costs; and a transparent process;
- The Model List and its supporting documents serve as a valuable resource for advocacy, selection, purchasing and supply at the country level;
- In 2007, at least 134 countries had a national EML and the majority had been updated in the previous five years;
- The Model List has been expanded to include the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc), to address the priority health-care needs of children;
- In the future, countries will face challenges in selecting high-cost medicines for oncology, orphan diseases and other conditions.
For more information on other chapters please go to http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/policy/world_medicines_situation/en/index.html or the
Table of Contents at http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/policy/world_medicines_situation/wmsr_table/en/index.html
Thank you
Richard
Richard Laing (Coordinator)
Medicine Information and Evidence for Policy,
Department of Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies
World Health Organization
CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Tel 41 22 791 4533
Fax 41 22791 4167
E-mail laingr@who.int