LIST OF ESSENTIAL MEDICINES FOR ETHIOPIA

Provision of promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services require regular availability of relevant medicines of proven safety, efficacy and quality at an affordable price and their proper use; including proper diagnosis of health problems, prescribing, and dispensing to patients. Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population. They are selected with due regards to public health relevance, evidence on safety, efficacy, quality and comparative cost-effectiveness. They are intended to be available within the context of functioning health systems at all times in adequate amount, appropriate dosage forms with assured quality. Essential Medicines List is meant to guide the selection, procurement, production, distribution and storage of medicines. It can also serve as an informational and educational tool for health care professionals involved in diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as dispensing of medicines. Furthermore, it can improve availability and promote rational use of medicines. The Government of Ethiopia, through its drug policy, has reaffirmed its commitment to provide or else systematize the supply of medicines that adequately meet the common contemporary health needs of the general population of the country. Thus, to materialize this objective, it is necessary to select medicines which are required for promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/mitigation and rehabilitation of diseases affecting majority of the population.