Diabetes and the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines

Abstract

In September, 2021, WHO published the 22nd edition of its Model List of Essential Medicines, including insulin analogues and SGLT2 inhibitors.1 Insulin has been on WHO's Model List of Essential Medicines since it was first published in 1977. Although the 21st list, which was published in 2019, included only soluble and intermediate-acting insulin and the oral hypoglycaemic agents gliclazide, glibenclamide, and metformin as medicines for people with diabetes, the new edition added insulin degludec, insulin detemir, and insulin glargine, including quality-assured biosimilars.