The mission of the Department of Essential Drugs and Medicines of the World Health Organization

World Health Organization

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...

 is "to help save lives and improve health by closing the huge gap between the potential that essential drugs have to offer and the reality that for millions of people -- particularly the poor and disadvantaged -- medicines are unavailable, unaffordable, unsafe or improperly used."

The EDM provides "global guidance on essential drugs and medicines, and working with countries -- at their request -- to implement national drug policies to ensure equity of access to essential drugs, drug quality and safety, and rational use of drugs."

See also

• Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
  Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
  The Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines is an international campaign started by Médecins Sans Frontières to increase the availability of essential medicines in developing countries. MSF often has difficulties treating patients because the medicines required are too expensive or are no...
  
  
• Essential medicines
  Essential medicines
  Essential medicines, as defined by the World Health Organization are "those drugs that satisfy the health care needs of the majority of the population; they should therefore be available at all times in adequate amounts and in appropriate dosage forms, at a price the community can afford."The WHO...
  
  
• WHO Model List of Essential Medicines