Essential medicines
Essential medicines are the products that serve the basic health needs of the population. According to WHO, these products should be available “at all times, in adequate amounts, in the appropriate dosage forms, with assured quality and adequate information, and at a price the individual and the community can afford”. IDA’s range is modelled on the WHO Essential Medicines List (EML). We believe that using the EML as a guide allows us to offer the most complete and up-to-date assortment of key health products.
What is considered essential continues to evolve as new therapies become available. The most recent update to the WHO EML (2021) included medication for the treatment of various cancers, new oral medicines for diabetes, and antimicrobials to treat bacterial and fungal infections. The WHO also provided new advice for the use of antibiotics in light of concerns about increasing resistance against these medicines. These additional products join a full list of anti-infectives, anti-retrovirals for HIV, anti-cancer treatment, treatments for tuberculosis, hepatitis c, and mental health medication.
For a complete overview of essential medicines in IDA's portfolio, please see IDA's Product Indicator. For ease of use, this brochure uses the same product classifications as the WHO.