The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (a.k.a. Essential Medicines List for Children or EMLc), published by the World Health Organization (WHO), contains the medications considered to be most effective and safe for 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 benefit–cost ratio. The first list for children was created in 2007, and the list is in its 10th edition as of 2025. Note: An α indicates a medicine is on the complementary list.
Anaesthetics, preoperative medicines and medical gases
General anaesthetics and oxygen
Inhalational medicines Isoflurane Nitrous oxide Oxygen Sevoflurane
Injectable medicines Ketamine Propofol
Local anaesthetics Bupivacaine Lidocaine Lidocaine/epinephrine (lidocaine + epinephrine (adrenaline))
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 Complementary:
Methadoneα
Medicines for other common symptoms in palliative care Amitriptyline Cyclizine Dexamethasone Diazepam Docusate sodium 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 Complementary:
Deferoxamineα Dimercaprolα Fomepizoleα Sodium calcium edetateα Succimerα
Medicines for neurological disorders
Medicines for central nervous system disorders
Antiseizure medicines Carbamazepine Diazepam Lamotrigine Levetiracetam Lorazepam Magnesium sulfate Midazolam Phenobarbital Phenytoin Prednisolone Valproic acid (sodium valproate) Complementary:
Ethosuximideα Levetiracetamα Valproic acid (sodium valproate)α
Medicines for multiple sclerosis No listings in this section.
Medicines for parkinsonism No listings in this section.
Medicines for cerebral palsy Complementary:
Baclofenα
Medicines for headache disorders
Medicines for acute migraine attacks Ibuprofen Paracetamol (acetaminophen)
Medicines for migraine prophylaxis Propranolol
Medicines for cluster headache No listings in this section.
Medicines for central nervous system infections
Medicines for bacterial central nervous system infections Amoxicillin Ampicillin Benzylpenicillin Cefotaxime Ceftriaxone Chloramphenicol Gentamicin Complementary:
Meropenemα
Medicines for viral central nervous system infections Aciclovir
Medicines for peripheral nervous system disorders
Medicines for Guillain-Barré syndrome Complementary:
Normal immunoglobulinα
Medicines for myasthenia gravis Neostigmine Complementary:
Pyridostigmineα
Anti-infective medicines
Anthelminthics
Intestinal anthelminthics
Albendazole Ivermectin Levamisole Mebendazole Niclosamide Praziquantel Pyrantel
Antifilarials Albendazole Diethylcarbamazine Ivermectin
Antischistosomals and other antinematode medicines Praziquantel Triclabendazole Complementary:
Oxamniquineα
Cysticidal medicines Complementary:
Albendazoleα Mebendazoleα Praziquantelα
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 Complementary:
Ceftazidimeα Meropenemα Vancomycinα
Reserve group antibiotics Complementary:
Ceftazidime/avibactam (ceftazidime + avibactam)α Ceftolozane/tazobactam (ceftolozane + tazobactam)α Colistinα Fosfomycinα Linezolidα Polymyxin Bα
Antileprosy medicines Clofazimine Dapsone Rifampicin
Antituberculosis medicines Amikacin Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid) Bedaquiline Clofazimine Cycloserine Delamanid Ethambutol Ethionamide Isoniazid Isoniazid/pyrazinamide/rifampicin (isoniazid + pyrazinamide + rifampicin) Isoniazid/rifampicin (isoniazid + rifampicin) Isoniazid/rifapentine (isoniazid + rifapentine) Levofloxacin Linezolid Meropenem Moxifloxacin Moxifloxacin P-aminosalicylate sodium Pyrazinamide Rifampicin Rifapentine Streptomycin
Antifungal medicines Amphotericin B Fluconazole Flucytosine Griseofulvin Itraconazole Nystatin Voriconazole Complementary:
Micafunginα Potassium iodideα
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/dolutegravir/lamivudine (abacavir + dolutegravir + lamivudine) 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 Complementary:
Oseltamivirα Valganciclovirα
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 Meglumine antimoniate Miltefosine Paromomycin Sodium stibogluconate
Antimalarial medicines
Medicines for curative treatment Artemether Artemether/lumefantrine (artemether + lumefantrine) Artesunate Artesunate/amodiaquine (artesunate + amodiaquine) Artesunate/mefloquine (artesunate + mefloquine) Artesunate/pyronaridine tetraphosphate (artesunate + pyronaridine tetraphosphate) Artesunate + sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (Co-packaged) Chloroquine Dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine phosphate (dihydroartemisinin + piperaquine phosphate) Primaquine Quinine
Medicines for chemoprevention Amodiaquine + sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (Co-packaged) Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine)
Medicines for chemoprophylaxis in travellers Chloroquine Doxycycline Mefloquine
Antipneumocystosis and antitoxoplasmosis medicines Pyrimethamine Sulfadiazine Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim)
Antitrypanosomal medicines
African trypanosomiasis Fexinidazole
Medicines for the treatment of 1st stage African trypanosomiasis Pentamidine Suramin sodium
Medicines for the treatment of 2nd stage African trypanosomiasis Eflornithine Nifurtimox Complementary:
Melarsoprolα
American trypanosomiasis Benznidazole Nifurtimox
Medicines for ectoparasitic infections Ivermectin
Medicines for Ebola virus disease Ansuvimab Atoltivimab/maftivimab/odesivimab (atoltivimab + maftivimab + odesivimab)
Medicines for COVID-19 No listings in this section.
Medicines for cystic fibrosis Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (elexacaftor + tezacaftor + ivacaftor) Ivacaftor Complementary:
Pancreatic enzymesα
Immunomodulators and Antineoplastics
Immunomodulators for non-malignant disease Complementary:
Adalimumabα Azathioprineα Ciclosporinα Tacrolimusα
Antineoplastic and supportive medicines
Cytotoxic medicines Complementary:
Arsenic trioxideα Asparaginaseα Bleomycinα Calcium folinate (leucovorin calcium)α Carboplatinα Cisplatinα Cyclophosphamideα Cytarabineα Dacarbazineα Dactinomycinα Daunorubicinα Doxorubicinα Doxorubicin (as pegylated liposomal)α Etoposideα Fluorouracilα Hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamide)α Ifosfamideα Irinotecanα Mercaptopurineα Methotrexateα Oxaliplatinα Paclitaxelα Pegaspargaseα Procarbazineα Realgar-Indigo naturalis formulationα Tioguanineα Vinblastineα Vincristineα Vinorelbineα
Targeted therapies Complementary:
All-trans retinoic acid (tretinoin) (ATRA)α Dasatinibα Everolimusα Imatinibα Nilotinibα Rituximabα
Immunomodulators Complementary:
Blinatumomabα Filgrastimα Pegfilgrastimα
Hormones and antihormones Complementary:
Dexamethasoneα Hydrocortisoneα Methylprednisoloneα Prednisoloneα
Supportive medicines Complementary:
Allopurinolα Mesnaα Rasburicaseα
Therapeutic foods Ready-to-use therapeutic food
Medicines affecting the blood
Antianaemia medicines Ferrous salt Folic acid Hydroxocobalamin Complementary:
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agentsα
Medicines affecting coagulation Desmopressin Emicizumab Enoxaparin Phytomenadione Complementary:
Heparin sodiumα Protamine sulfateα Warfarin
Medicines for haemoglobinopathies
Medicines for sickle-cell disease Deferasirox Complementary:
Deferoxamineα Hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamide)α
Medicines for thalassaemias Deferasirox Complementary:
Deferoxamineα
Blood products, coagulation factors and plasma substitutes
Blood and blood components Cryoprecipitate, pathogen-reduced Fresh frozen plasma Platelets Red blood cells Whole blood
Human immunoglobulins Anti-rabies immunoglobulin Anti-tetanus immunoglobulin Complementary:
Normal immunoglobulinα
Coagulation factors Coagulation factor VIII, plasma-derived Coagulation factor IX, plasma-derived Coagulation factor VIII, recombinant Coagulation factor IX, recombinant
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 Furosemide Complementary:
Digoxinα Dopamineα
Antithrombotic medicines No listings in this section.
Lipid-lowering agents No listings in this section.
Fixed-dose combinations for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease No listings in this section.
Dermatological medicines
Antifungal medicines Miconazole Selenium sulfide 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 Complementary:
Adalimumabα Methotrexateα Ustekinumabα
Scabicides and pediculicides Benzyl benzoate Permethrin
Moisturizers Urea Glycerol
Sunscreens, broad-spectrum Sunscreen, broad-spectrum
Diagnostic agents
Ophthalmic medicines Fluorescein Tropicamide
Radiocontrast media Complementary:
Barium sulfateα
Antiseptics and disinfectants
Antiseptics Chlorhexidine Ethanol Povidone iodine
Disinfectants Alcohol based hand rub Chlorine base compound Chloroxylenol Glutaral Hypochlorous acid
Diuretics Furosemide Complementary:
Hydrochlorothiazideα Mannitolα Spironolactoneα
Gastrointestinal medicines Complementary:
Pancreatic enzymesα
Antiulcer medicines Omeprazole Ranitidine
Antiemetic medicines Dexamethasone Metoclopramide Ondansetron Complementary:
Aprepitantα
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 Prednisolone
Androgens No listings in this section.
Estrogens No listings in this section.
Progestogens No listings in this section.
Medicines for diabetes
Insulins Insulin (analogue, long-acting) Insulin (analogue, rapid-acting) Insulin (human, intermediate-acting) Insulin (human, short-acting)
Hypoglycaemic agents Complementary:
Metforminα
Medicines for hypoglycaemia Glucagon Complementary:
Diazoxideα
Thyroid hormones and antithyroid medicines Levothyroxine Complementary:
Iodine + potassium iodide (Lugol's solution)α Methimazoleα Potassium iodideα Propylthiouracilα
Medicines for disorders of the pituitary hormone system No listings in this section.
Immunologicals
Diagnostic agents Tuberculin, purified protein derivative (PPD)
Sera, immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies Anti-rabies virus monoclonal antibodies Antivenom immunoglobulin Diphtheria antitoxin Equine rabies immunoglobulin
Vaccines BCG vaccine Cholera vaccine Dengue vaccine Diphtheria vaccine Ebola vaccine Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine Hepatitis A vaccine Hepatitis B vaccine Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine Influenza vaccine (seasonal) Japanese encephalitis vaccine Malaria vaccine Measles vaccine Meningococcal meningitis vaccine Mpox vaccine Mumps vaccine Pertussis vaccine Pneumococcal vaccine Poliomyelitis vaccine Rabies vaccine Rotavirus vaccine Rubella vaccine Tetanus vaccine Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine Typhoid vaccine Varicella vaccine Yellow fever vaccine
Muscle relaxants (peripherally-acting) and cholinesterase inhibitors Neostigmine Suxamethonium Vecuronium Complementary:
Pyridostigmineα
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 Complementary:
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.
Medicines for medical abortion 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 Complementary:
Alprostadil (prostaglandin E1)α Beractantα Ibuprofenα Poractant alfaα
Peritoneal dialysis solution Complementary:
Intraperitoneal dialysis solution (of appropriate composition in accordance with local clinical guidelines.)α
Medicines for mental and behavioural disorders
Medicines used in psychotic disorders No listings in this section.
Medicines used in mood disorders No listings in this section.
Medicines used in depressive disorders No listings in this section.
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 for alcohol use disorders No listings in this section.
Medicines for nicotine use disorders No listings in this section.
Medicines for opioid use disorders 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 Colecalciferol Iodine Multiple micronutrient powder Pyridoxine Retinol Riboflavin Thiamine Complementary:
Calcium gluconateα
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 anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) Complementary:
Hydroxychloroquineα Methotrexateα
Medicines for juvenile joint diseases Complementary:
Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) Adalimumabα Methotrexateα Triamcinolone hexacetonideα
Dental medicines and preparations Fluoride Glass ionomer cement Resin-based composite (low-viscosity) Resin-based composite (high-viscosity) Silver diamine fluoride
Notes
References
Further reading 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. 2015. hdl:10665/189763. ISBN 978-92-4-069494-1. ISSN 0512-3054. WHO technical report series; no. 994. 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. 2017. hdl:10665/259481. ISBN 978-92-4-121015-7. ISSN 0512-3054. WHO technical report series; no. 1006. 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. 2019. hdl:10665/330668. ISBN 978-92-4-121030-0. ISSN 0512-3054. WHO technical report series;1021.
External links eEML - Electronic Essential Medicines List