The document discusses the concept of essential drugs as endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure basic necessary medications are available and accessible to all. The WHO defines essential drugs as those that meet the health needs of most populations and should always be available in adequate amounts at affordable prices. Essential drugs are selected based on criteria including efficacy, safety, quality, cost-effectiveness, and public health relevance. The purposes of essential drug programs are to improve access to healthcare, address public health needs, promote rational drug use, and increase cost-effectiveness.

1. Prepared by
Md Rahat Ul Azam
RN, B.Sc. in PHN(RU), MPH(BSMMU)
Nursing Instructor
Rangpur Nursing College, Rangpur

2. The concept of essential drugs
The concept of essential drugs, also known
as essential medicines, is an approach
endorsed by the World Health Organization
(WHO) to ensure that basic, necessary
medications are made available and
accessible to all individuals, regardless of
their socioeconomic status or geographic
location.

3. The concept of essential drugs continue..
-A limited range of carefully selected essential
drugs leads to
 Better health care
 Better drug management
 Lower costs

4. According to the WHO, essential drugs are
defined as
"those drugs that satisfy the health care needs
of the majority of the population; they should,
therefore, be available at all times in adequate
amounts and in appropriate dosage forms, at a
price the community can afford."

5. The purposes of essential drugs are to:
• Improve Access to Healthcare
• Address Public Health Needs
• Promote Rational Use of Medicines
• Improve Health Outcomes
• Increase Cost-Effectiveness

6. The purposes of essential drugs are to:
• Enhance Healthcare System Efficiency
• Facilitate Universal Health Coverage
• Improve Healthcare Equity
• Guide Drug Procurement & Distribution
• Support Health Policy and Planning

7. Criteria for selecting essential drugs
E f f i c a c y
Essential drugs should be proven to be
effective in treating the targeted health
conditions based on scientific evidence and
clinical studies.

8. Criteria for selection of essential medicines
continue…
Safety
Selected drugs must have a favorable
safety profile, with a well-established
risk-benefit ratio that minimizes
adverse effects and potential harm to
patients.

9. Criteria for selection of essential medicines
continue…
Quality
Essential drugs should meet high-quality
standards, including being manufactured,
stored, and distributed in accordance with
good manufacturing practices (GMP).

10. Criteria for selection of essential medicines
continue…
Cost-effectiveness
Drugs chosen as essential should offer
good value for money, providing the
best health outcomes at a reasonable
cost, especially in resource-limited
settings.

11. Criteria for selection of essential medicines
continue…
Public health relevance
Essential drugs should address prevalent
health conditions that significantly
affect public health, such as infectious
diseases or chronic conditions.

12. Criteria for selection of essential medicines
continue…
Accessibility
Drugs selected as essential should be
available and accessible to all segments
of the population, including vulnerable
and underserved communities.

13. Criteria for selection of essential medicines
continue…
Stability and storage requirements
Essential drugs should have good
stability under various storage
conditions to ensure their effectiveness
during distribution and use.

14. Criteria for selection of essential medicines
continue…
Compatibility with healthcare resources
The chosen drugs should be suitable for
the available healthcare infrastructure
and the expertise of healthcare providers
in a given region.

15. Criteria for selection of essential medicines
continue…
Appropriate dosage forms
Essential drugs should be available in
appropriate dosage forms (e.g., tablets,
capsules, liquids) to suit various age
groups and administration needs.

16. Criteria for selection of essential medicines
continue…
Alignment with treatment guidelines
Essential drug selection should align
with national or international
treatment guidelines to ensure
consistency in healthcare practices.

17. Characteristics of essential drugs
 E – Efficacy
 S – Safety and suitability
 S - Storage and stability
 E - Ease of administration (dosage form)
 N - Need of population
 T - Total cost
 I - Irrational combination to be avoided
 A - Availability, Affordability
 L - Listing regularly (updating)

18. Thank You