[Correspondence] Has the WHO Model Essential Medicines List lost its way?

The WHO's Model Essential Medicines List (EML), created in the 1970s, remains one of WHO's most successful tools in guiding countries' evidence-based, rational medicine selection. WHO states, “Essential medicines are those that effectively and safely treat the priority health-care needs of the population. They are selected by taking into consideration public health relevance, evidence of benefits and harms, and with consideration of costs, affordability and other relevant factors.”1