WHO List of Essential Medicines & Drugs For Children [Updated 2023]

Update: Essential Medicine List for Children has published the lastest 8th Edition, September 2021.

World Health Organisation in short popularly known as WHO has been publishing the Essential Medicines List for both Children and Adults. It has been updated every 2 years. The first list of Essential Medicines list was published in 1977 only for adults. As science has developed much more than the previous, the pediatric department has been separated. The first edition of CHILDREN was published in October 2007. And in two yearly fashion, it has been updated for the third time in 2011. Every time there may be some drug added or some drug excluded. For example, Antiparkinsonism drugs were included in the previous edition but deleted from this third edition. This list will surely help the Pediatrician to choose a better and safe drug. And for the general people to know more about the prescribed drug and to fulfill their curiosity.

The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children is a list, proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), of the most effective and safe medicines for use in children up to 12 years of age.

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

The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and Model List of Essential Medicines for Children are updated and published every two years, intended as a guide for countries or regional authorities to adopt or adapt in accordance with local priorities and treatment guidelines for the development and updating of national essential medicines lists. Selection of a limited number of essential medicines as essential, taking into consideration national disease burden and clinical need can lead to improved access through streamlined procurement and distribution of quality-assured medicines, support more rational or appropriate prescribing and use and lower costs for both health care systems and for patients.

WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children

This Model List is intended for use for children up to 12 years of age. These are the safest drugs to meet the basic healthcare needs of children. Essential Medicine List for Children published the latest 8th Edition, in September 2021. The PDF file is available to download.

PDF size: 712kB only.

Download WHO Essential Drugs for Children

Do not need to read the following texts.

The updated list includes available formulations and indications.

Model list of essential medicine WHO Link list.essentialmeds.org

1. Anesthetics

Inhalational medicines

1. halothane
2. isoflurane
3. nitrous oxide
4. oxygen

Injectable medicines

1. ketamine
2. propofol

Local anesthetics

1. bupivacaine
2. †lidocaine
3. lidocaine + epinephrine (adrenaline)

Preoperative medication

1. Atropine
2. Midazolam
3. Morphine

2. Analgesics, Antipyretic, NSAID, DMARDs

Non-opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIMs)

1. Ibuprofen
2. Paracetamol
3. Acetylsalicylic acid

Opioid analgesics

1. Morphine

Disease-modifying agents used in rheumatoid disorders (DMARDs)

1. Hydroxychloroquine
2. Methotrexate

3. Antiallergies

1. Chlorphenamine
2. Dexamethasone
3. Hydrocortisone
4. Prednisolone
5. Epinephrine

4. Antidote for Poisoning

1. Charcoal- Nonspecific
2. Acetylcysteine
3. Atropine
4. Calcium gluconate
5. Naloxone
6. Deferoxamine
7. Dimercaprol
8. Sodium calcium edetate
9. Succimer

5. Anticonvulsants and Antiepileptics

1. Carbamazepine
2. Lorazapam
3. Diazepam
4. Phenobarbital
5. Phenytoin
6. Sodium valproate
7. Ethosuximide

6. Anti-Infectives medicines

Intestinal Anthelmintics

1. Albendazole
2. Levamisole
3. Mebendazole
4. Niclosamide
5. Praziquantel
6. Pyrantel

Antifilarials

1. Albendazole
2. Diethylcarbamazine
3. Ivermectin

Antischistosomals and other antitrematode medicines

1. Praziquantel
2. Triclabendazole
3. Oxamniquine

Antibacterials

Beta Lactam medicines

1. Amoxicillin
2. Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid
3. Ampicillin
4. Benzathine benzylpenicillin
5. Benzylpenicillin
6. Cefalexin
7. Cefazolin
8. Ceftriaxone
9. Cloxacillin
10. Phenoxymethylpenicillin
11. Procaine benzylpenicillin
12. Cefotaxime
13. Ceftazidim
14. Imipenem + cilastatin

Other antibacterials

1. Azithromycin
2. Chloramphenicol
3. Ciprofloxacin
4. Doxycycline
5. Erythromycin
6. Gentamicin
7. Metronidazole
8. Nitrofurantoin
9. Sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim
10. Trimethoprim
11. Clindamycin
12. Vancomycin

Antileprosy medicines

1. Clofazimine
2. Dapsone
3. Rifampicin

Antituberculosis medicines

1. Ethambutol
2. Isoniazid
3. Pyrazinamide
4. Rifampicin
5. Streptomycin

Antifungal medicines

1. Fluconazole
2. Griseofulvin
3. Nystatin
4. Amphotericin B
5. Flucytosine
6. Potassium iodide

Antiviral medicines

Antiherpes medicines

1. Aciclovir

Antiretrovirals

1. Abacavir (ABC)
2. Didanosine (ddI)
3. Emtricitabine (FTC)
4. lamivudine (3TC)
5. Stavudine (d4T)
6. Zidovudine (ZDV or AZT)
7. Efavirenz (EFV or EFZ)
8. Nevirapine (NVP)
9. Atazanavir a
10. Lopinavir + Ritonavir (LPV/r)
11. Ritonavir
12. saquinavir (SQV)

Other antivirals

1. Oseltamivir
2. Ribavirin

Antiprotozoal medicines

1. Diloxanide
2. Metronidazole
3. Amphotericin B
4. Miltefosine
5. Paromomycin
6. sodium stibogluconate

Antimalarial medicines

1. Artemether
2. Artemether + lumefantrine
3. Chloroquine
4. Doxycycline
5. Mefloquine
6. Primaquine
7. Quinine
8. Sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine
9. Proguanil

Antipneumocystosis and antitoxoplasmosis medicines

1. Pyrimethamine
2. Sulfadiazine
3. Sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim

Antitrypanosomal medicines ( American trypanosomiasis )

1. Benznidazole
2. Nifurtimox

7. Antimigraine Drugs

1. Ibuprofen
2. Paracetamol

Immunosuppressive medicines

1. Azathioprine
2. Ciclosporine

8. Anti Neoplastic, Immunosuppressive

ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA

STEP 1 

1. Asparaginase
2. Dexamethasone
3. Mercaptopurine
4. Methotrexate
5. Methylprednisolone
6. Prednisolone
7. Vincristine

STEP 2   

1. Cyclophosphamide
2. Cytarabine
3. Daunorubicin
4. Doxorubicin
5. Hydrocortisone
6. Methotrexate
7. Thioguanine

WILMSʹ TUMOUR (NEPHROBLASTOMA)

STEP 1 & STEP 2 

1. dactinomycin
2. daunorubicin
3. vincristine

BURKITTʹS LYMPHOMA

STEP 1 & STEP 2

1. Cyclophosphamide
2. Cytarabine
3. Doxorubicin
4. Prednisolone
5. Vincristine

ADJUVANT MEDICINES

1. Allopurinol
2. Mesna

Medicines used in palliative care

1. Amitriptyline
2. Cyclizine
3. Dexamethasone
4. Diazepam
5. Docusate sodium
6. Fluoxetine
7. Midazolam

9. Medicines for Blood

For anaemia

1. Fessous salt
2. Folic acid
3. Hydroxycobalamin

Medicines affecting coagulation

1. Phytomenadione
2. Heparin sodium
3. Protamine sulfate
4. Warfarin

10. Blood products

1. Factor VIII concentrate
2. Factor IX complex (coagulation factors, II, VII, IX, X) concentrate
3. Human normal immunoglobulin

11. Cardiovascular Medicines

Antihypertensive medicines

1. Enalapril
2. Digoxin
3. Furosemide
4. Dopamine

12. Topical Dermatological Medicines

1. Miconazole
2. Terbinafine
3. Mupirocin
4. Potassium permanganate
5. Silver sulfadiazine
6. Hydrocortisone
7. Betamethasone
8. Benzyl peroxide
9. Permethrin

13. Disinfectants and Antiseptics

1. Chlorhexidine
2. Ethanol
3. Polyvidone iodine
4. Chlorine base compound
5. Chloroxylenol

14. Diuretics

1. Furosemide
2. Hydrochlorothiazide
3. Spironolactone

15. Gastrointestinal Medicines

1. Omeprazole
2. Ranitidine
3. Metoclopramide
4. Ondansetron
5. Oral rehydration salts

16. Hormones and other Endocrine Medicine

1. Glucagon
2. Insulin injection
3. Intermediate‐acting insulin
4. Metformin
5. levothyroxine
6. Potassium iodide

17. Immuglobulins

1. Antitetanus immunoglobulin (human)
2. Antivenom immunoglobulin
3. Diphtheria antitoxin
4. Rabies immunoglobulin
5. Vaccines

18. Muscle relaxants

1. Neostigmine
2. Suxamethonium
3. Vecuronium
4. Pyridostigmine

 19. Ophthalmology Medicines

1. Atropine
2. Gentamicin
3. Tetracycline

20. Psychiatric Medicines

1. Chlorpromazine
2. Haloperidol

21. Drugs acting on Respiratory Tract

1. Budesonide
2. Salbutamol

22. Vitamins And Minerals

Okay That’s all for now. Download The Full List of Essential Medicines. Explore the medical World. And always be careful about how to use the medicine. All drugs keep in a safe place.

Download IYCF Clinical Guidelines on Infant and Young Child Feeding

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