WHO Updates Essential Medicines Amid Global Health Crises
Geneva: A deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), famine-driven starvation in Gaza, a cholera epidemic sweeping Sudan, and the ongoing management of mpox across Africa have placed unprecedented strain on global health systems, as detailed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in a media briefing on September 5, 2025.
Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus outlined urgent responses to these crises, alongside the release of updated WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines, adding treatments for cancer, diabetes, and other conditions. These efforts, supported by rapid deployments of vaccines, supplies, and expertise, Dr. Ghebreyesus said, underscore WHO’s commitment to saving lives despite funding shortages and geopolitical barriers. The DRC’s latest Ebola outbreak, declared on September 4, 2025, in Kasai province, adds a critical layer to these challenges, with the WHO mobilising swiftly to contain the virus.
In the DRC, health authorities declared an outbreak of the country’s 16th Ebola virus disease in Kasai province, reporting 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, as of September 4, 2025. The outbreak, centred in Bulape and Mweka health zones, was confirmed as Ebola Zaire by tests conducted on September 3 at the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa. Patients presented with fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and haemorrhage, prompting rapid investigations. WHO has deployed experts in epidemiology, infection prevention, laboratory work, and case management to join a national Rapid Response Team, strengthening surveillance, treatment, and infection control in health facilities. Two tonnes of supplies, including personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory equipment, and medical supplies, have been delivered to the remote region, which requires at least a day’s drive from Tshikapa, the provincial capital, with limited air links. Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasised, “We’re acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities,” leveraging the DRC’s extensive experience from prior outbreaks in 2007, 2008, and 2022. WHO released 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, effective against Ebola Zaire, prepositioned in Kinshasa, to vaccinate contacts and frontline health workers, alongside US$500,000 from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies. With transmission ongoing and case numbers likely to rise, WHO urged donors to support the response to prevent further spread.
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with a famine declared two weeks ago causing 370 malnutrition-related deaths since October 2023, including over 300 in the past two months. Recent Israeli bombardments threaten water and sanitation for nearly 1 million people, worsening conditions that have led to over 100 cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, with 11 deaths, linked to hunger, poor water quality, and cramped living conditions. WHO has evacuated 7,640 patients, including 5,300 children, and 2,660 companions since October 2023, but over 15,000 patients, including 3,800 children, await urgent specialised care, with 700 deaths, including 140 children, due to delayed evacuations. Dr. Tedros condemned starvation as a war crime, urging Israel to end the conflict, allow treatment in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and calling on countries to accept critically ill patients. He pressed Israel’s allies to intervene, noting that starvation will not enhance Israel’s security or aid hostage releases but risks normalising such tactics in future conflicts.
Sudan’s overlooked conflict has fueled a dire crisis, with famine conditions and a cholera outbreak across all 18 states, reporting over 105,000 cases and 2,600 deaths. WHO projects 770,000 children will face severe acute malnutrition in 2025, with 20,000 already treated at 142 WHO-supported centres. In North Darfur’s El Fasher, under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for over 500 days, 260,000 people need urgent aid, with 35 health facilities destroyed, 5,000 suspected cholera cases, 98 deaths, and 130,000 malnourished children. Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence require immediate medical and mental health support, but no UN aid, including WHO supplies, has reached the city in over a year. WHO’s vaccination campaigns reached 3.5 million people in August, with another planned for 2 million in Darfur, having vaccinated 17 million since November 2023. Dr. Tedros called for the RSF to lift the siege, for all parties to end the war, and for safe humanitarian access to El Fasher.
On mpox, WHO lifted the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), declared over a year ago, following advice from the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee, chaired by Professor Dimie Ogoina of Niger Delta University, Nigeria. Declining cases in the DRC, Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, alongside improved response capacities, prompted the decision. Nearly 6 million vaccine doses were pledged, with over 3 million delivered to 12 countries and just under 1 million administered. However, circulating mpox clades, patchy surveillance, limited funding, and strained capacities necessitate vigilance. The Africa CDC maintains mpox as a continental emergency, focusing on protecting young children and people living with HIV. WHO extended mpox recommendations until August 2026 and retained Emergency Use Listing for vaccines and diagnostics.
WHO also released the 24th edition of the Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and the 10th edition of the Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc) on September 5, 2025, adopted by over 150 countries for procurement and reimbursement. Following the May 2025 meeting of the WHO Expert Committee, 20 new medicines were added to the EML and 15 to the EMLc, including PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors like pembrolizumab for metastatic cancers and GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, dulaglutide, liraglutide) and GLP-1/GIP dual agonist (tirzepatide) for type 2 diabetes with cardiovascular or kidney disease and obesity. Additions also cover cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, haemophilia, and blood disorders. Dr. Yukiko Nakatani highlighted their potential to address global health needs, while Deusdedit Mubangizi stressed equitable access through generic competition and primary care availability.
The briefing marked the final press conference for WHO’s Director of Communications, Gabriella Stern, retiring after over six years. Dr. Tedros praised her leadership through crises like COVID-19, noting her dedication to the WHO’s mission.
– global bihari bureau
Image by Tiago Sierra sierratds from Pixabay
