# WHO Essential Medicines List for cancer

Source: https://onco.cc/terms/who-essential-medicines/  
OnCo record `who-essential-medicines` (Term). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

The World Health Organization's list of medicines every health system should provide, which now includes about 60 cancer drugs from cyclophosphamide and cisplatin to trastuzumab, imatinib and PD-1 inhibitors, guiding procurement and pricing in lower-income countries.

## Summary

The Essential Medicines List (EML, since 1977) added a systematic cancer section in 2015 (16 new medicines including trastuzumab, rituximab, imatinib), and subsequent revisions (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025) added targeted agents and, in 2023-25, PD-1 inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and biosimilars/generics of TKIs), CDK4/6 inhibitors (2025 for breast cancer), enzalutamide, and paediatric formulations; some high-cost agents (e.g. some ADCs) were declined on cost-effectiveness grounds. Listing is a signal to governments, procurement agencies (UNICEF, Global Fund models) and generic manufacturers, and underpins efforts like the Access to Oncology Medicines Coalition. The children's EML (EMLc) covers paediatric protocols; the WHO Model Formulary and prequalification of biosimilars (trastuzumab, rituximab 2019-20) support access.

## Fields

- Kind: Term
- Last checked: 2026-09-08
- Tags: gap-fill; policy; global

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHO_Model_List_of_Essential_Medicines
- WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines: https://www.who.int/groups/expert-committee-on-selection-and-use-of-essential-medicines/essential-medicines-lists

## Connected records

- technologies: [Global oncology and access in low- and middle-income countries](https://onco.cc/technologies/global-oncology-access/)
- terms: [Biosimilar](https://onco.cc/terms/biosimilar/), [China National Reimbursement Drug List negotiation and volume-based procurement](https://onco.cc/terms/china-vbp-nrdl/), [Nexavar compulsory licence (India, 2012)](https://onco.cc/terms/nexavar-compulsory-licence/), [Novartis v. Union of India (Glivec, 2013)](https://onco.cc/terms/novartis-glivec-ruling/), [Oncology drug pricing and price transparency](https://onco.cc/terms/drug-price-transparency/), [TRIPS Agreement and the Doha Declaration](https://onco.cc/terms/trips-doha/)
- drugs: [Cisplatin](https://onco.cc/drugs/cisplatin/), [Cyclophosphamide](https://onco.cc/drugs/cyclophosphamide/), [Imatinib](https://onco.cc/drugs/imatinib/), [Pembrolizumab](https://onco.cc/drugs/pembrolizumab/), [Trastuzumab](https://onco.cc/drugs/trastuzumab/)
- ideas: [Pool purchasing of essential cancer medicines across countries](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-cost-pooled-procurement-essential/), [Voluntary licences and price caps for patented cancer drugs in low-income countries](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-cost-voluntary-licensing-oncology/)
- trials: [Low-dose olanzapine for cancer anorexia (Tata Memorial)](https://onco.cc/trials/olanzapine-appetite-tmh/)
- institutions: [Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence](https://onco.cc/institutions/butaro-cancer-center/), [Institut National d'Oncologie, Rabat](https://onco.cc/institutions/institut-national-oncologie-rabat/), [Ocean Road Cancer Institute](https://onco.cc/institutions/ocean-road-cancer-institute/), [Uganda Cancer Institute](https://onco.cc/institutions/uganda-cancer-institute/), [World Health Organization Cancer Programme](https://onco.cc/institutions/who/)
- roadmaps: [Global access and affordability roadmap: essential medicines and generics → biosimilars and frugal trials → reliance, pooling and homegrown innovation](https://onco.cc/roadmaps/global-access-roadmap/)

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