As part of the campaign for universal health care around the world, every two years WHO publishes its updated Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc), intended as a guide for countries to adopt or adapt in line with local priorities and treatment guidelines for the development of national essential medicine lists. 

Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population. They are intended to be available in functioning health systems at all times, in appropriate dosage forms, of assured quality, and at prices both individuals and the community can afford. They are selected with due regard to disease prevalence and public health relevance, evidence of efficacy and safety, and with consideration of comparative costs and cost-effectiveness.

Since 2007, the EMLc has presented an evidence-based list of the medicines and formulations needed to satisfy the priority health care needs of children up to 12 years of age. Currently in its 7th edition, the EMLc is used by many countries to guide the development of paediatric formularies and shape policies for national procurement. The WHO EML Secretariat works closely with WHO technical departments and external stakeholders to ensure that medicines and formulations identified as necessary and appropriate to meet the specific needs of children are considered for inclusion in the EMLc. The EMLc will be updated next in June/July 2021.