1. According to the World Health Organisation, essential drugs are "those that satisfy the primary
health care needs of the population."
To promote this idea, in 1995 SATELLIFE and a group of volunteer moderators started E-Drug,
the English language discussion group of essentialdrugs.org. Its objective is to support the
concept of essential drugs by improving and speeding up communications among all health
professionals working in the field of essential drugs. Discussions focus on topics such as rational
use of drugs, drug policy, economics and financing, supply and marketing, legislation and
regulation, quality assurance and safety, and training. E-drug is specifically targeted to health
workers in developing countries, and is based on simple off-line e-mail technology.
WHO further recommends that "essential medicines are selected with due regard to disease
prevalence, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness. 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."
The concept of essential drugs was launched in 1977, and became one of the eight pillars of
WHO's "Primary Health Care" strategy. Every two years an expert committee updates the WHO
list of essential drugs. The list serves as a model for countries to adapt to their needs.
The essential drugs concept can be applied in all countries, and at various levels (national,
provincial, district, hospital). The essential drug concept is especially valuable in poor-resource
settings, as it allows one to get the best medicines for the resources available. The concentration
on a few essential drugs has also lowered prices, due to economies of scale.
The essentialdrugs.org website was launched in 2002 (the 25th anniversary of the essential drug
concept) as there is a growing need to collect, store and exchange essential drug information
among health workers. We would like to collect National Drug Policy documents, Essential
Drug Lists, National Formularies, Standard Treatment Guidelines and price/quality information
from all countries and regions. If your national documents are not yet available, please email
them to this address: e-drug-upload@healthnet.org
In 2002, WHO changed the name of "essential drugs" into "essential medicines." In this website,
essential drugs and essential medicines have the same meaning.
E-DRUG Spin-offs
French (E-MED) and Spanish (E-FARMACOS) language versions followed in 1998 and 2000.
These discussion groups have their own character, as they serve different communities. To
support the creation of an international network of drug information centres, INDICES was
initiated in 1997. In 2002, INDIA-DRUG was started to foster a national email discussion group
on the rational use of drugs. SATELLIFE staff and the moderators of E-DRUG, E-MED, E-
FARMACOS, and INDICES are willing to support other regional or special interest groups.

2. The SATELLIFE staff and moderators welcome your visit to essentialdrugs.org!
About INDIA-DRUG
INDIA-DRUG is a collaborative effort among the WHO-India Programme on Essential Drugs,
the Delhi Society for the Rational Use of Drugs (DSPRUD), and SATELLIFE. Spreading vital
information around the world, INDIA-DRUG is a country-focused version of SATELLIFE's
electronic discussion groups on essential drugs. INDIA-DRUG is used by health care
professionals to obtain and discuss current information on essential drugs, policy, program
activities, education and training. Members also use INDIA-DRUG to announce and learn of
upcoming conferences or courses in their field.
How to Develop and Implement a National Drug Policy
How to Develop and Implement a National Drug Policy (Second Edition)
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In 1975, the World Health Assembly in resolution WHA28.66 requested WHO to develop means
to assist Member States in formulating national drug policies. It also urged WHO to assist
countries in implementing strategies, such as the selection of essential drugs and appropriate
procurement of quality drugs based on health needs, and in providing education and training in
various elements of pharmaceutical programmes. This resolution was followed by a series of
events that marked the evolution of country drug programmes with the assistance of WHO.
The first WHO Model List of Essential Drugs was published in 1977. A year later he WHO/UNICEF
Conference on Primary Health Care at Alma-Ata included access to essential drugs as one of the eight
elements of primary health care. In 1979, he WHO Action Programme on Essential Drugs was
established. Another landmark in promoting strategies to improve the pharmaceutical situation in
countries was he 1985 Conference of Experts on Rational Use of Drugs in Nairobi. The following year’s
World Health Assembly adopted resolutions that reflected the Conference recommendations on
promoting rational use. Also in 1986, a WHO Expert Committee on National Drug Policies met to
develop practical guidance for Member States, published as Guidelines for developing national drug
policies.1 This publication has proved very useful over the years.

3. The efforts of countries, WHO and other agencies have had a considerable impact. The number of
people with access to essential drugs has grown from roughly 2,100 million in 1977 to an estimated
3,800 million in 1999. By 1999, 66 countries had formulated or updated a national drug policy within the
previous 10 years, compared with 14 countries in 1989. By the end of 1999, 156 WHO Member States
had a national essential drugs list; 127 of the lists had been revised within the previous five years.
Nevertheless, problems of access to quality drugs and rational use persist. Although few hard data are
available, it is likely that in the poorest parts of Africa and Asia more than half the population still lacks
access to essential drugs. And there are new challenges that may have an impact on access, such as the
expansion of the private sector’s role in pharmaceuticals, health sector reforms and the effects of
globalization. The changing pattern of diseases, antimicrobial resistance and emerging new diseases are
other factors. Particularly important is the current trend of governments to reduce health care spending
because of inadequate resources, despite increasing health needs.
After a decade, and with new problems to be addressed, there was a clear need to revise the 1988
guidelines. The Expert Committee on National Drug Policies met in 1995 to review the current
pharmaceutical situation and to start the updating process. Their deliberations resulted in a report that
became the basis of the present guidelines. These updated guidelines focus on the national drug policy
process, strategies and options which can be used by Member States and organizations active in the
pharmaceutical sector. Each policy component is discussed, with a focus on current problems and new
challenges. And each chapter presents strategies and practical approaches that can be used to improve
the situation. All chapters include references to publications that provide additional technical and
practical details.
How to Develop and Implement a National Drug Policy (Second Edition)
Continuity and Change
Implementing the third WHO Medicines Strategy 2008-2013
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Download 6 page summary document
Continuity and Change – Implementing the third WHO Medicines Strategy 2008-2013, provides
practical guidance to WHO and stakeholders on how the essential medicines concept and

4. WHO’s expertise will be used to promote universal access and patient-centred health care for all.
It presents priorities for action by WHO as a guide for future investment and planning decisions,
and serves as a user-friendly document for stakeholders.
WHO’s work in the area of pharmaceuticals has existed for 60 years – as long as WHO itself.
During this time many products and services have been created which are widely recognized as
core functions of WHO. Countries, organizations, industry, health-care providers and patients
rely on these core services. The strategic implementation plan also builds on achievements of the
last decade such as the WHO/UN Prequalification of Medicines Programme, without which it
would not have been possible to treat 4 million HIV/AIDS patients with safe and effective
medicines, and the WHO/Health Action International (HAI) survey methodology, without which
medicine prices, availability and affordability could not have been measured in over 50 countries
as part of MDG monitoring.
The strategy also describes how WHO contributes towards the achievement of the health-related
MDGs, the implementation of recent World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions, the WHO
Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2008-2013 and the priorities of the Director-General.