The concept of essential drugs was both hailed and strongly criticised when it was originally published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1977. However, it has stood the test of time and has since been adopted by a great many countries on every continent. Far from being a simplistic idea applicable only to low income countries, the concept of essential drugs is relevant to public health policy in all countries and to individual doctors and pharmacists in their daily practice, in every situation. 1975. The experience gained in these countries helped refine the concept of essential drugs, and a "model list" of essential medicines was eventually published by the WHO in 1977. A list covering priority healthcare needs. An expert committee composed of academics, medical practitioners and pharmacists from every continent was given the task of selecting which drugs to include in the list. The committee did not intend the list to be prescriptive, but considered it "a tentative identification of a "common core" of basic needs which has universal relevance and applicability. [...] However, the concept of "essential drug lists " must accommodate a variety of local situations if the lists are ever to meet the real health needs of the majority of the population " (...).
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