Zinc sulphate, tablet or syrup in 10 mg per unit dosage forms, has been included in the 14th edition (March 2005) of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, under “17.5.2 Medicines for diarrhoea for children”, with the specification that “in acute diarrhoea zinc sulphate should be used as an adjunct to oral rehydration salts”. The WHO/UNICEF joint statement on “Clinical management of acute diarrhoea”, which includes the recommendation on zinc supplementation, is available here. For policy implications, click here. WHO is developing additional briefing materials on zinc, including on policies and strategy to introduce it in a country.