# WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children

The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (aka Essential Medicines List for Children or EMLc), published by the World Health Organization (WHO), contains the medications considered to be most effective and safe in children up to twelve years of age to meet the most important needs in a health system.
The list is divided into core items and complementary items. The core items are deemed to be the most cost-effective options for key health problems and are usable with little additional health care resources. The complementary items either require additional infrastructure such as specially trained health care providers or diagnostic equipment or have a lower cost–benefit ratio.
The first list for children was created in 2007, and the list is in its 9th edition as of 2023.
Note: An α indicates a medicine is on the complementary list.

## Anaesthetics, preoperative medicines and medical gases
### General anaesthetics and oxygen
#### Inhalational medicines

* Halothane
* Isoflurane
* Nitrous oxide
* Oxygen

#### Injectable medicines

* Ketamine
* Propofol

### Local anaesthetics

* Bupivacaine
* Lidocaine
* Lidocaine/epinephrine (lidocaine + epinephrine)

### Preoperative medication and sedation for short-term procedures

* Atropine
* Midazolam
* Morphine

### Medical gases

* Oxygen

## Medicines for pain and palliative care
### Non-opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIMs)

* Ibuprofen
* Paracetamol (acetaminophen)

### Opioid analgesics

* Morphine
* Methadone

### Medicines for other symptoms common in palliative care

* Amitriptyline
* Cyclizine
* Dexamethasone
* Diazepam
* Docusate sodium
* Fluoxetine
* Hyoscine hydrobromide
* Lactulose
* Midazolam
* Ondansetron
* Senna

## Antiallergics and medicines used in anaphylaxis

* Dexamethasone
* Epinephrine (adrenaline)
* Hydrocortisone
* Loratadine
* Prednisolone

## Antidotes and other substances used in poisonings
### Non-specific

* Charcoal, activated

### Specific

* Acetylcysteine
* Atropine
* Calcium gluconate
* Naloxone
* Deferoxamine
* Dimercaprol
* Fomepizole
* Sodium calcium edetate
* Succimer

## Anticonvulsants/antiepileptics

* Carbamazepine
* Diazepam
* Lamotrigine
* Lorazepam
* Midazolam
* Phenobarbital
* Phenytoin
* Valproic acid (sodium valproate)
* Ethosuximide
* Valproic acid (sodium valproate)

## Anti-infective medicines
### Anthelminthics
#### Intestinal anthelminthics

* Albendazole
* Ivermectin
* Levamisole
* Mebendazole
* Niclosamide
* Praziquantel
* Pyrantel

#### Antifilarials

* Albendazole
* Diethylcarbamazine
* Ivermectin

#### Antischistosomals and other antinematode medicines

* Praziquantel
* Triclabendazole
* Oxamniquine

#### Cysticidal medicines

* Albendazole
* Mebendazole
* Praziquantel

### Antibacterials
#### Access group antibiotics

* Amikacin
* Amoxicillin
* Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid)
* Ampicillin
* Benzathine benzylpenicillin
* Benzylpenicillin
* Cefalexin
* Cefazolin
* Chloramphenicol
* Clindamycin
* Cloxacillin
* Doxycycline
* Gentamicin
* Metronidazole
* Nitrofurantoin
* Phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V)
* Procaine benzylpenicillin
* Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim)
* Trimethoprim

#### Watch group antibiotics

* Azithromycin
* Cefixime
* Cefotaxime
* Ceftriaxone
* Cefuroxime
* Ciprofloxacin
* Clarithromycin
* Piperacillin/tazobactam (piperacillin + tazobactam)
* Vancomycin
* Ceftazidime
* Meropenem
* Vancomycin

#### Reserve group antibiotics

Reserve antibiotics are last-resort antibiotics. The EML antibiotic book was published in 2022.
* Ceftazidime/avibactam (ceftazidime + avibactam)
* Colistin
* Fosfomycin
* Linezolid
* Polymyxin B

#### Antileprosy medicines

* Clofazimine
* Dapsone
* Rifampicin

#### Antituberculosis medicines

* Ethambutol
* Isoniazid
* Isoniazid/pyrazinamide/rifampicin (isoniazid + pyrazinamide + rifampicin)
* Isoniazid/rifampicin (isoniazid + rifampicin)
* Isoniazid/rifapentine (isoniazid + rifapentine)
* Pyrazinamide
* Rifampicin
* Rifapentine
* Amikacin
* Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid)
* Bedaquiline
* Clofazimine
* Cycloserine
* Delamanid
* Ethionamide
* Levofloxacin
* Linezolid
* Meropenem
* Moxifloxacin
* P-aminosalicylic acid
* Streptomycin

### Antifungal medicines

* Amphotericin B
* Fluconazole
* Flucytosine
* Griseofulvin
* Itraconazole
* Nystatin
* Voriconazole
* Micafungin
* Potassium iodide

### Antiviral medicines
#### Antiherpes medicines

* Aciclovir

#### Antiretrovirals
##### Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors

* Lamivudine
* Zidovudine

##### Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

* Nevirapine

##### Protease inhibitors

* Darunavir
* Lopinavir/ritonavir (lopinavir + ritonavir)
* Ritonavir

##### Integrase inhibitors

* Dolutegravir
* Raltegravir

##### Fixed-dose combinations of antiretroviral medicines

* Abacavir/lamivudine (abacavir + lamivudine)
* Lamivudine/zidovudine (lamivudine + zidovudine)

##### Medicines for prevention of HIV-related opportunistic infections

* Isoniazid/pyridoxine/sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (isoniazid + pyridoxine + sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim)

#### Other antivirals

* Ribavirin
* Oseltamivir
* Valganciclovir

#### Antihepatitis medicines
##### Medicines for hepatitis B
###### Nucleoside/Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors

* Entecavir

##### Medicines for hepatitis C
###### Pangenotypic direct-acting antiviral combinations

* Daclatasvir
* Daclatasvir/sofosbuvir (daclatasvir + sofosbuvir)
* Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (glecaprevir + pibrentasvir)
* Sofosbuvir
* Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (sofosbuvir + velpatasvir)

###### Non-pangenotypic direct-acting antiviral combinations

No listings in this section.

###### Other antivirals for hepatitis C

No listings in this section.

### Antiprotozoal medicines
#### Antiamoebic and antigiardiasis medicines

* Diloxanide
* Metronidazole

#### Antileishmaniasis medicines

* Amphotericin B
* Miltefosine
* Paromomycin
* Sodium stibogluconate or meglumine antimoniate

#### Antimalarial medicines
##### For curative treatment

* Amodiaquine
* Artemether
* Artemether/lumefantrine (artemether + lumefantrine)
* Artesunate
* Artesunate/amodiaquine (artesunate + amodiaquine)
* Artesunate/mefloquine (artesunate + mefloquine)
* Artesunate/pyronaridine tetraphosphate (artesunate + pyronaridine tetraphosphate)
* Chloroquine
* Dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine phosphate (dihydroartemisinin + piperaquine phosphate)
* Doxycycline
* Mefloquine
* Primaquine
* Quinine
* Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine)

##### For chemoprevention

* Amodiaquine + sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (Co-packaged)
* Chloroquine
* Doxycycline
* Mefloquine
* Proguanil
* Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine)

#### Antipneumocystosis and antitoxoplasmosis medicines

* Pyrimethamine
* Sulfadiazine
* Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim)

#### Antitrypanosomal medicines
##### African trypanosomiasis

* Fexinidazole

###### 1st stage

* Pentamidine
* Suramin sodium

###### 2nd stage

* Eflornithine
* Nifurtimox
* Melarsoprol

##### American trypanosomiasis

* Benznidazole
* Nifurtimox

### Medicines for ectoparasitic infections

* Ivermectin

## Antimigraine medicines
### For treatment of acute attack

* Ibuprofen
* Paracetamol

### For prophylaxis

* Propranolol

## Immunomodulators and Antineoplastics
### Immunomodulators for non-malignant disease

* Adalimumab
* Azathioprine
* Ciclosporin
* Tacrolimus

### Antineoplastic and supportive medicines
#### Cytotoxic medicines

* Arsenic trioxide
* Asparaginase
* Bleomycin
* Calcium folinate
* Carboplatin
* Cisplatin
* Cyclophosphamide
* Cytarabine
* Dacarbazine
* Dactinomycin
* Daunorubicin
* Doxorubicin
* Etoposide
* Fluorouracil
* Hydroxycarbamide
* Ifosfamide
* Irinotecan
* Mercaptopurine
* Methotrexate
* Oxaliplatin
* Paclitaxel
* Pegaspargase
* Procarbazine
* Realgar/Indigo naturalis
* Tioguanine
* Vinblastine
* Vincristine
* Vinorelbine

#### Targeted therapies

* All-trans retinoid acid (ATRA)
* Dasatinib
* Everolimus
* Imatinib
* Nilotinib
* Rituximab

#### Immunomodulators

* Filgrastim

#### Hormones and antihormones

* Dexamethasone
* Hydrocortisone
* Methylprednisolone
* Prednisolone

#### Supportive medicines

* Allopurinol
* Mesna
* Rasburicase

## Medicines affecting the blood
### Antianaemia medicines

* Ferrous salt
* Folic acid
* Hydroxocobalamin
* Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents

### Medicines affecting coagulation

* Enoxaparin
* Phytomenadione
* Desmopressin
* Heparin sodium
* Protamine sulfate
* Warfarin

### Other medicines for haemoglobinopathies

* Deferoxamine
* Hydroxycarbamide

## Blood products of human origin and plasma substitutes
### Blood and blood components

* Fresh frozen plasma
* Platelets
* Red blood cells
* Whole blood

### Plasma-derived medicines
#### Human immunoglobulins

* Anti-rabies immunoglobulin
* Anti-tetanus immunoglobulin
* Normal immunoglobulin

#### Blood coagulation factors

* Coagulation factor VIII
* Coagulation factor IX

### Plasma substitutes

* Dextran 70

## Cardiovascular medicines
### Antianginal medicines

No listings in this section.

### Antiarrhythmic medicines

No listings in this section.

### Antihypertensive medicines

* Enalapril

### Medicines used in heart failure

* Digoxin
* Furosemide
* Dopamine

### Antithrombotic medicines

No listings in this section.

### Lipid-lowering agents

No listings in this section.

## Dermatological medicines (topical)
### Antifungal medicines

* Miconazole
* Terbinafine

### Anti-infective medicines

* Mupirocin
* Potassium permanganate
* Silver sulfadiazine

### Anti-inflammatory and antipruritic medicines

* Betamethasone
* Calamine
* Hydrocortisone

### Medicines affecting skin differentiation and proliferation

* Benzoyl peroxide
* Calcipotriol
* Coal tar
* Podophyllum resin
* Salicylic acid
* Urea

### Scabicides and pediculicides

* Benzyl benzoate
* Permethrin

## Diagnostic agents
### Ophthalmic medicines

* Fluorescein
* Tropicamide

### Radiocontrast media

* Barium sulfate

## Disinfectants and antiseptics
### Antiseptics

* Chlorhexidine
* Ethanol
* Povidone iodine

### Disinfectants

* Alcohol based hand rub
* Chlorine base compound
* Chloroxylenol
* Glutaral

## Diuretics

* Furosemide
* Hydrochlorothiazide
* Mannitol
* Spironolactone

## Gastrointestinal medicines

* Pancreatic enzymes

### Antiulcer medicines

* Omeprazole
* Ranitidine

### Antiemetic medicines

* Dexamethasone
* Metoclopramide
* Ondansetron
* Aprepitant

### Anti-inflammatory medicines

No listings in this section.

### Laxatives

No listings in this section.

### Medicines used in diarrhoea

* Oral rehydration salts + zinc sulfate (Co-packaged)

#### Oral rehydration

* Oral rehydration salts

#### Medicines for diarrhoea

* Zinc sulfate

## Medicines for endocrine disorders
### Adrenal hormones and synthetic substitutes

* Fludrocortisone
* Hydrocortisone

### Androgens

No listings in this section.

### Estrogens

No listings in this section.

### Progestogens

No listings in this section.

### Medicines for diabetes
#### Insulins

* Insulin injection (soluble)
* Intermediate-acting insulin
* Long-acting insulin analogues

#### Oral hypoglycaemic agents

* Metformin

### Medicines for hypoglycaemia

* Glucagon
* Diazoxide

### Thyroid hormones and antithyroid medicines

* Levothyroxine
* Lugol's solution
* Methimazole
* Potassium iodide
* Propylthiouracil

## Immunologicals
### Diagnostic agents

* Tuberculin, purified protein derivative (PPD)

### Sera and immunoglobulins

* Anti-rabies virus monoclonal antibodies
* Antivenom immunoglobulin
* Diphtheria antitoxin
* Equine rabies immunoglobulin

### Vaccines

Recommendations for all
* BCG vaccine
* Diphtheria vaccine
* Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
* Hepatitis B vaccine
* HPV vaccine
* Measles vaccine
* Pertussis vaccine
* Pneumococcal vaccine
* Poliomyelitis vaccine
* Rotavirus vaccine
* Rubella vaccine
* Tetanus vaccine
Recommendations for certain regions
* Japanese encephalitis vaccine
* Yellow fever vaccine
* Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine
Recommendations for some high-risk populations
* Cholera vaccine
* Dengue vaccine
* Hepatitis A vaccine
* Meningococcal meningitis vaccine
* Rabies vaccine
* Typhoid vaccine
Recommendations for immunization programmes with certain characteristics
* Influenza vaccine
* Mumps vaccine
* Varicella vaccine

## Muscle relaxants (peripherally-acting) and cholinesterase inhibitors

* Neostigmine
* Suxamethonium
* Vecuronium
* Pyridostigmine

## Ophthalmological preparations
### Anti-infective agents

* Aciclovir
* Azithromycin
* Erythromycin
* Gentamicin
* Natamycin
* Ofloxacin
* Tetracycline

### Anti-inflammatory agents

* Prednisolone

### Local anaesthetics

* Tetracaine

### Miotics and antiglaucoma medicines

No listings in this section.

### Mydriatics

* Atropine
* Epinephrine (adrenaline)

### Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) preparations

No listings in this section.

## Medicines for reproductive health and perinatal care
### Contraceptives

No listings in this section.

### Ovulation inducers

No listings in this section.

### Uterotonics

No listings in this section.

### Antioxytocics (tocolytics)

No listings in this section.

### Other medicines administered to the mother

No listings in this section.

### Medicines administered to the neonate

* Caffeine citrate
* Chlorhexidine
* Ibuprofen
* Prostaglandin E1
* Surfactant

## Peritoneal dialysis solution

* Intraperitoneal dialysis solution (of appropriate composition)

## Medicines for mental and behavioural disorders
### Medicines used in psychotic disorders

* Chlorpromazine
* Haloperidol

### Medicines used in mood disorders
#### Medicines used in depressive disorders

* Fluoxetine

#### Medicines used in bipolar disorders

No listings in this section.

### Medicines for anxiety disorders

No listings in this section.

### Medicines used for obsessive compulsive disorders

No listings in this section.

### Medicines for disorders due to psychoactive substance use

No listings in this section.

## Medicines acting on the respiratory tract
### Antiasthmatic medicines

* Budesonide
* Epinephrine (adrenaline)
* Salbutamol (albuterol)

## Solutions correcting water, electrolyte and acid-base disturbances
### Oral

* Oral rehydration salts
* Potassium chloride

### Parenteral

* Glucose
* Glucose with sodium chloride
* Potassium chloride
* Sodium chloride
* Sodium hydrogen carbonate
* Sodium lactate, compound solution

### Miscellaneous

* Water for injection

## Vitamins and minerals

* Ascorbic acid
* Cholecalciferol
* Iodine
* Multiple micronutrient powder
* Pyridoxine
* Retinol
* Riboflavin
* Thiamine
* Calcium gluconate

## Ear, nose and throat medicines

* Acetic acid
* Budesonide
* Ciprofloxacin
* Xylometazoline

## Medicines for diseases of joints
### Medicines used to treat gout

No listings in this section.

### Disease-modifying agents used in rheumatoid disorders

* Hydroxychloroquine
* Methotrexate

### Juvenile joint diseases

* Aspirin

### Dental preparations

* Fluoride
* Glass ionomer cement
* Silver diamine fluoride