By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – World Health Agency on Sunday has updated its model lists of essential medicines to include new treatments for cancer, diabetes and obesity to its essential list, marked an important step in improving equitable access to life-saving health products worldwide.
The revised lists, released Friday, guide procurement and coverage decisions in more than 150 countries, WHO stated.
They include 523 medicines for adults and 374 for children, after the addition of 20 new adult treatments 15 for youngsters.
Other additions cover cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, haemophilia and blood disorders.
Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems, Access and Data said “The new editions of essential medicines lists mark a significant step toward expanding access to new medicines with proven clinical benefits and with high potential for global public health impact”.
It noted that cancer remains a global priority and is still responsible for nearly 10 million deaths a year.
WHO has added immune checkpoint inhibitors – powerful therapies that help the immune system target cancer cells, including pembrolizumab, atezolizumab and cemiplimab, for certain metastatic cancers, cited evidence they can extend survival.
WHO stressed that diabetes and obesity, affect over 800 million and 1 billion people worldwide are now recognized as urgent global threats.
WHO added a group of medicines to help not only lower blood sugar but also support patients with type 2 diabetes.
UN health agency stressed that high prices remain a barrier and urged countries to prioritize patients most in need, promote generic competition and integrate access into primary care.
