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 as of 2021.

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^α

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^α
• Dimercaprol^α
• Fomepizole^α
• Sodium calcium edetate^α
• Succimer^α

Anticonvulsants/antiepileptics

• Carbamazepine
• Diazepam
• Lamotrigine
• Lorazepam
• Midazolam
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• Valproic acid (sodium valproate)
• Ethosuximide^α
• Valproic acid (sodium valproate)^α

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^α

Cysticidal medicines

• Albendazole^α
• Mebendazole^α
• Praziquantel^α

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^α
• Meropenem^α
• Vancomycin^α

Reserve group antibiotics

Reserve antibiotics are last-resort antibiotics. The EML antibiotic book was published in 2022.

• Ceftazidime/avibactam (ceftazidime + avibactam)^α
• Colistin^α
• Fosfomycin^α
• Linezolid^α
• Polymyxin B^α

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^α
• Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid)^α
• Bedaquiline^α
• Clofazimine^α
• Cycloserine^α
• Delamanid^α
• Ethionamide^α
• Levofloxacin^α
• Linezolid^α
• Meropenem^α
• Moxifloxacin^α
• P-aminosalicylic acid^α
• Streptomycin^α

Antifungal medicines

• Amphotericin B
• Fluconazole
• Flucytosine
• Griseofulvin
• Itraconazole
• Nystatin
• Voriconazole
• Micafungin^α
• Potassium iodide^α

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^α
• Valganciclovir^α

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^α

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^α
• Azathioprine^α
• Ciclosporin^α
• Tacrolimus^α

Antineoplastic and supportive medicines

Cytotoxic medicines

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

Targeted therapies

• All-trans retinoid acid (ATRA)^α
• Dasatinib^α
• Everolimus^α
• Imatinib^α
• Nilotinib^α
• Rituximab^α

Immunomodulators

• Filgrastim^α

Hormones and antihormones

• Dexamethasone^α
• Hydrocortisone^α
• Methylprednisolone^α
• Prednisolone^α

Supportive medicines

• Allopurinol^α
• Mesna^α
• Rasburicase^α

Medicines affecting the blood

Antianaemia medicines

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

Medicines affecting coagulation

• Enoxaparin
• Phytomenadione
• Desmopressin^α
• Heparin sodium^α
• Protamine sulfate^α
• Warfarin^α

Other medicines for haemoglobinopathies

• Deferoxamine^α
• Hydroxycarbamide^α

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^α

Blood coagulation factors

• Coagulation factor VIII^α
• Coagulation factor IX^α

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^α

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^α

Disinfectants and antiseptics

Antiseptics

• Chlorhexidine
• Ethanol
• Povidone iodine

Disinfectants

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

Diuretics

• Furosemide
• Hydrochlorothiazide^α
• Mannitol^α
• Spironolactone^α

Gastrointestinal medicines

• Pancreatic enzymes^α

Antiulcer medicines

• Omeprazole
• Ranitidine

Antiemetic medicines

• Dexamethasone
• Metoclopramide
• Ondansetron
• Aprepitant^α

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^α

Medicines for hypoglycaemia

• Glucagon
• Diazoxide^α

Thyroid hormones and antithyroid medicines

• Levothyroxine
• Lugol's solution^α
• Methimazole
• Potassium iodide^α
• Propylthiouracil^α

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^α

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)^α

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^α
• Prostaglandin E1^α
• Surfactant^α

Peritoneal dialysis solution

• Intraperitoneal dialysis solution (of appropriate composition)^α

Medicines for mental and behavioural disorders

Medicines used in psychotic disorders

• Chlorpromazine^α
• Haloperidol^α

Medicines used in mood disorders

Medicines used in depressive disorders

• Fluoxetine^α

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^α

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^α
• Methotrexate^α

Juvenile joint diseases

• Aspirin^α

Dental preparations

• Fluoride
• Glass ionomer cement
• Silver diamine fluoride

Notes

References

Further reading

• World Health Organization (2015). The selection and use of essential medicines. Twentieth report of the WHO Expert Committee 2015 (including 19th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and 5th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/189763. ISBN 9789240694941. ISSN 0512-3054. WHO technical report series; no. 994.
• World Health Organization (2017). The selection and use of essential medicines: report of the WHO Expert Committee, 2017 (including the 20th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and the 6th Model List of Essential Medicines for Children). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/259481. ISBN 978-92-4-121015-7. ISSN 0512-3054. WHO technical report series; no. 1006.
• World Health Organization (2019). The selection and use of essential medicines: report of the WHO Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines, 2019 (including the 21st WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and the 7th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/330668. ISBN 9789241210300. ISSN 0512-3054. WHO technical report series;1021.

External links

eEML - Electronic Essential Medicines List