Was ivermectin on the WHO list of essential medications for humans?
Yes, ivermectin is on the World Health Organization's (WHO) List of Essential Medicines. It has been included on this list since 1987 due to its importance in treating parasitic diseases, particularly river blindness (onchocerciasis) and lymphatic filariasis.
The WHO List of Essential Medicines identifies medications considered to be most effective and safe to meet the most important needs in a health system. Ivermectin's inclusion reflects its significance as an antiparasitic medication with well-established efficacy and safety profile for its approved uses.
It's worth noting that this WHO designation refers specifically to ivermectin's use as an antiparasitic treatment, not for other potential applications that have been discussed in recent years, such as for COVID-19 treatment.
Yes, ivermectin is included on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for its use in treating certain parasitic diseases in humans, such as onchocerciasis (river blindness) and strongyloidiasis. This list highlights medications that are considered essential for addressing the most important health needs globally.
Yes, ivermectin is included on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (last updated in 2023) for humans. Here are the key details:
1. WHO Essential Medicine Status:
- Listed since: 1987 (originally for onchocerciasis).
- Current indication: Treatment of onchocerciasis (river blindness) and strongyloidiasis (intestinal worm infection).
- Form: Oral tablets (typically 3 mg or 6 mg doses for humans).
2. Why It's Essential:
- Critical for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs):
- Mass drug administration (MDA) programs for onchocerciasis rely on ivermectin donations (e.g., Merck's Mectizan Donation Program, which has distributed billions of doses since 1987).
- One of the few effective treatments for chronic Strongyloides infections, which can be fatal in immunocompromised patients.
3. Exclusions:
- Not listed for COVID-19, scabies, or other off-label uses—only for specific parasitic infections.
- Veterinary formulations are not considered essential for human health.
4. Global Impact:
- Instrumental in reducing river blindness in Africa and Latin America.
- Named a "wonder drug" by the WHO for its role in combating NTDs.
For the official WHO list, see:
WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (2023)
Yes, ivermectin is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for humans.
It is listed under the section for Anthelminthics and specifically as an Antifilarial and Intestinal Anthelminthic.
The WHO considers it an essential medicine for several parasitic diseases, including:
- Onchocerciasis (river blindness)
- Strongyloidiasis
- Lymphatic filariasis
- Other soil-transmitted helminth infections (ascariasis, trichuriasis, hookworm diseases)
- Scabies
Yes, ivermectin is included on the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines for humans.
Key Details
- Purpose: Treatment of specific parasitic infections, including:
- Onchocerciasis (river blindness)
- Strongyloidiasis (intestinal roundworm infection)
- Scabies (noted in more recent guidance)
- Significance: Listed because it is effective, safe, and important for public health, particularly in tropical and low-resource regions.
- Note: Ivermectin is listed for parasitic diseases only — not for viral infections like COVID-19.
The WHO Essential Medicines List highlights medicines that are the most effective and critical for meeting the basic health needs of populations worldwide.
Yes, ivermectin is included on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines for humans. It has been part of the list for its critical role in treating specific parasitic infections, such as onchocerciasis (river blindness) and lymphatic filariasis, due to its efficacy, safety when used as directed, and cost-effectiveness in low-resource settings. The WHO Essential Medicines List is updated regularly, and ivermectin has remained on it for these indications in the 2023 version, which is the most recent available.
However, its inclusion is specifically for approved parasitic disease treatments, not for unproven uses like COVID-19, which the WHO has explicitly advised against outside clinical trials.
Yes, ivermectin is on the World Health Organization (WHO) List of Essential Medicines for humans. It was first added in 1987 for the treatment of onchocerciasis (river blindness), and its indications have since expanded to include lymphatic filariasis, strongyloidiasis, trichuriasis, ascariasis, ancylostomiasis, hookworm diseases, and scabies. The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (including the 21st and 22nd editions) specifically lists ivermectin as a scored 3 mg tablet for use as an anthelminthic and for treating ectoparasitic infections.