WHO unveils global repository for National Essential Medicines Lists (nEMLs)

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8 April 2025 Departmental update

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the National Essential Medicines Lists (nEMLs) repository, a centralized digital platform compiling 150 national essential medicines lists from six global regions. This comprehensive resource enhances access to critical health-care data, supporting policymakers, health-care professionals and researchers.

Developed through extensive research, online searches and collaboration, the repository offers an up-to-date and robust collection of essential medicines lists spanning from 2005 to 2024. It reflects evolving health-care priorities, balancing medical necessity, affordability and accessibility.

Beyond a static database, the nEMLs repository serves as a collaborative tool inviting contributions from Member States, WHO regional offices and researchers to ensure completeness and relevance. It serves as a foundation for evidence-based decision-making, medicine procurement, and health-care policy harmonization.

The launch of the National Essential Medicines Lists repository marks a significant step forward in global health-care collaboration,” said Deus Mubangizi, WHO’s Director of the Health Products Policy and Standards Department. “By providing a centralized and accessible platform, we are equipping policymakers, health-care professionals and researchers with the critical data needed to make informed decisions and foster equitable access to essential medicines worldwide.

The development of this database was supported by Dr Nav Persaud, from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada.

By the numbers: The repository includes 47 national lists from the WHO African Region, 18 from the Eastern Mediterranean, 31 from Europe, 22 from the Americas Region, 11 from Southeast Asia, and 21 from the Western Pacific Region.

Each list reflects a nation’s unique health-care needs, priorities, and challenges.

By consolidating these essential medicines lists, WHO strengthens global health systems and promotes shared knowledge for improved health-care access worldwide.