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.

Note: An α indicates a medicine is on the complementary list.

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

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

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)

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

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

Antiherpes medicines

 * Aciclovir

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

Nucleoside/Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors

 * Entecavir

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.

Antiamoebic and antigiardiasis medicines

 * Diloxanide
 * Metronidazole

Antileishmaniasis medicines

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

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)

African trypanosomiasis

 * Fexinidazole

1st stage

 * Pentamidine
 * Suramin sodium

2nd stage

 * Eflornithine
 * Nifurtimox
 * Melarsoprol

American trypanosomiasis

 * Benznidazole
 * Nifurtimox

Medicines for ectoparasitic infections

 * Ivermectin

For treatment of acute attack

 * Ibuprofen
 * Paracetamol

For prophylaxis

 * Propranolol

Immunomodulators for non-malignant disease

 * Adalimumab
 * Azathioprine
 * Ciclosporin
 * Tacrolimus

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

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 and blood components

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

Human immunoglobulins

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

Blood coagulation factors

 * Coagulation factor VIII
 * Coagulation factor IX

Plasma substitutes

 * Dextran 70

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.

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

Ophthalmic medicines

 * Fluorescein
 * Tropicamide

Radiocontrast media

 * Barium sulfate

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

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.

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

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

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.

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 used in psychotic disorders

 * Chlorpromazine
 * Haloperidol

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.

Antiasthmatic medicines

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

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 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