Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population. They are selected using criteria of efficacy, safety, cost of a course of therapy, compliance, multiple usage and storage, ease of administration and local availability. Medicines and health products often make up the largest portion of countries’ (and households’) health spending and their impact on health financing places them in a central position in all discussions, strategies and plans for universal health coverage. Access to quality-assured and affordable medicines is an essential component of universal health coverage.

Currently, the majority of people in low- and middle-income countries pay for medicines out-of-pocket, often leading to financial hardship. With the rise in non-communicable diseases – many of which are chronic conditions that require long-term treatment – the financial burden will become even greater, as will the need to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.

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