WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children

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 8th edition .
Note: An α indicates a medicine is only 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
Notes
References
Further reading
External links
Children
2007 introductions
Drug-related lists