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Essential Medicine Concept

The document discusses the concept of essential medicines, which are medicines selected by the WHO to satisfy a population's priority healthcare needs based on disease prevalence, efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness. The WHO publishes a list of essential medicines every two years that is revised regularly, and countries formulate their own lists based on this. The purpose is to ensure availability of effective, safe and affordable medicines.

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53 views5 pages

Essential Medicine Concept

The document discusses the concept of essential medicines, which are medicines selected by the WHO to satisfy a population's priority healthcare needs based on disease prevalence, efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness. The WHO publishes a list of essential medicines every two years that is revised regularly, and countries formulate their own lists based on this. The purpose is to ensure availability of effective, safe and affordable medicines.

Uploaded by

yashvardton
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Essential Medicine Concept

The concept of essential medicines was first time mooted by WHO in 1977 and
the first list of essential medicine was published in 1977. The list is revised every
2 years. Currently the 19th list (April, 2015) is in use with 414 drugs. There is a
core list that presents a list of minimum medicine needs for a basic health care
system, listing the most efficacious, safe and cost-effective medicines for priority
conditions. Priority conditions are selected on the basis of current and estimated
future public health relevance and potential for safe and cost effective treatment.
There is a complementary list that presents essential medicines for priority
diseases, for which specialized diagnostic or monitoring facilities, and/or
specialist medical care and/or specialist training are needed.

The essential drug list of India was formulated in 1996 and was revised in
2015. It has 376 drugs. Many drugs included in the list are preceded by a box
In WHO list to indicate that they represent an example of a therapeutic group and that
various drugs could serve as alternatives. It is imperative that this is understood when drugs
are selected at national level since choice is then influenced by the comparative cost and
availability of equivalent products..
Definition: Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the
population.
Selection criteria: Essential medicines are selected with due regard to disease prevalence,
evidence on efficacy and safety and comparative cost effectiveness. Essential drugs are
selected to fulfill the real needs of the majority of the population in diagnostic,
prophylactic, therapeutic and rehabilitative services using criteria of risk-benefit ratio, cost-
effectiveness, quality, practical administration as well as patient compliance and acceptance.
Purpose: Essential medicines are intended to be available within the context of functioning
health systems at all times, in adequate amounts, in the appropriate dosage forms, with
assured quality and at a price the individual and the community can afford.
Implementation: The implementation of the concept of essential medicines is
intended to be flexible and adaptable to many different situations; exactly which
medicines are regarded as essential remains a national responsibility.
Clinical guidelines and a list of essential medicines lead to better patient care
and effective prevention.
The principle of the concept is that a limited number of medicines lead to:
• A better supply of drugs
• More rational prescribing
•Procurement of good quality drugs at lower cost
•Easier storage, distribution and dispensing
•Focused training and drug information
•Prescribers gain more experienced with fewer drugs and recognize ADR better.
Essential medicines are selected based on:
•Morbidity pattern
•Evidence of efficacy and safety
•Relative cost effectiveness
•Local manufacturing facilities
•Pharmacokinetics considerations
•Ensured quality, bioavailability, stability
•Single compounds preferred over FDC
•FDCs only if proven advantage of combination, decreasing emergence of
resistance, i.e. malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS
Essential medicine list should be:
•Evidence based-Best balance of efficacy, safety, quality and cost
•Efficient - focuses therapeutic, decision, professional training, public
information, finances.
•Flexible- implemented from primary to tertiary health care
•Forward looking- regularly updated in accordance with new needs and
information.

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